Operational criteria for primary exercise dependence6
| 1. Preoccupation with exercise becomes stereotyped and routine |
| 2. Significant withdrawal symptoms in the absence of exercise (e.g. mood swings, irritability, insomnia) |
| 3. The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in their physical, social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. |
| 4. The preoccupation with exercise is not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g. as a means of losing weight or controlling calorie intake as in an eating disorder). |