The relationship between exercise addiction, body image perception, eating behaviour and psychological distress amongst fitness centre users in Klang Valley

The rise of exercise addiction and negative body image perceptions among fitness centre users is concerning. This study explores the relationships between exercise addiction, body image perception, eating behaviour, and psychological distress among adults in Klang Valley. A total of 374 participants were selected through purposive sampling, and data were analysed using Spearman's rank correlation with five validated instruments: the Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI), Body Image Questionnaire (BIQ-19), Self-Regulation Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (SREBQ), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Findings indicated many participants showed symptoms of exercise addiction, moderate body image concerns, healthy eating behaviours, and moderate levels of anxiety and depression. Notably, there was a weak, non-significant negative correlation between exercise addiction and body image perception (r = -0.067). However, significant positive correlations were found between exercise addiction and both eating behaviour (r = 0.681) and psychological distress: anxiety (r = 0.740) and depression (r = 0.684). Body image perception negatively correlated with eating behaviour (r = -0.128) and showed weak negative correlations with anxiety (ρ = -0.158) and depression (r = -0.184). Eating behaviour, on the other hand, had strong positive correlations with anxiety (r = 0.694) and depression (r = 0.715). These findings reveal the psychological challenges faced by fitness centre attendees and stress the need for promoting balanced exercise and positive body image. The research insights can inform targeted interventions to improve mental well-being in fitness settings.