Exercise addiction and its effects on heart and muscle health in gym-goers
Official title: Musculoskeletal and Cardiovascular Effects of Exercise Addiction in Recreational Bodybuilders
Run by Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi · NCT07061509 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether adult recreational gym-goers with signs of exercise addiction have more muscle or joint injuries, higher cardiovascular risk factors, and greater anabolic steroid use than those without addiction.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 32 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Istanbul, Üsküdar) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 29, 2025 |
| Main results expected | July 20, 2026 |
| Study ends | July 20, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | July 30, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07061509 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adult recreational fitness-center members (18+) who do resistance training regularly (about three or more times per week or at least six months of training) and can complete questionnaires and basic health measurements are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Professional/elite athletes, people with diagnosed psychiatric illnesses, and those who do not exercise regularly or cannot complete the assessments are unlikely to benefit or are excluded.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is an observational comparison of adult recreational resistance trainers recruited from randomly selected fitness centers in Istanbul. Participants who have trained regularly for at least six months will be classified as exercise-dependent or non-dependent using the Exercise Dependence Scale-21 (EDS-21). Musculoskeletal symptoms will be measured with the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, cardiovascular risk will be estimated with the SCORE system using blood pressure, smoking, cholesterol, and glucose data, and body-image attitudes will be recorded with the Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS). Participants will also be asked about anabolic steroid use and its frequency, and outcomes will be compared between the two groups.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help identify gym users at higher risk for injuries, heart-risk factors, and steroid-related harm so clinicians and trainers can target prevention and counseling.
How similar studies have gone: Prior observational work has linked exercise dependence to increased injury and substance misuse, but combining standardized musculoskeletal, SCORE cardiovascular risk, and steroid-use data in recreational resistance trainers is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged ≥18 years * Member of a fitness center * Regular physical activity (≥3 times per week) * Voluntary participation with informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed psychiatric illness * Professional or elite athletes * Incomplete questionnaire data
Where it's running
-
Esra Pehlivan
Istanbul, Üsküdar, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Esra Pehlivan, Associate Professor
- Email: esra.pehlivan@sbu.edu.tr
- Phone: +90216 777 87 77
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.