DORNELES, Rui; BERGMANN, Gabriel    SILVA, Marcelo. Risk for exercise dependence in health clubs. []. , 20, 1, pp.137-148. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/19psd200111.

The exercise dependence is defined by a behavior of excessive practice of physical exercises that can result in physical and psychological injuries. The objective of the study was to verify the prevalence of exercise dependence in health club's users in the urban area of the city of Uruguaiana, Southern Brazil. An epidemiological survey of the descriptive observational type was carried out with a sample of 496 individuals aged 18 years and over, of both sexes, practicing different modalities offered at 14 health clubs. To assess exercise dependence, the Exercise Dependence Scale was used. This instrument is based on the seven criteria for substance dependence of the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders and allows, according to the score, to distinguish non-dependent asymptomatic, non-dependent symptomatic, and at risk of exercise dependence, as well as the identification of the nature of the dependence, as being physiological or psychosocial. The prevalence of 7.1% (95%CI: 4.84 - 9.36) of individuals at risk of exercise dependence was verified. Higher frequencies among males, white skin color, aged between 18 and 40 years old, single, with education to high school and monthly family income of up to four minimum wages. A greater sensitivity of responses to abstinence and tolerance criteria, and evidence of dependence of physiological order were verified in these spaces. It is concluded that even in a non-expressive way, situations of risk of physical exercise dependence were verified in health clubs, being necessary more studies that approach the subject in more depth.

: dependence; exercise; behavior; fitness centers.

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