Exercise Identity or EI is a factor which is associated with a person’s self-image and includes an emphasis on their exercise behaviour. It also allows them to influence their future exercise behaviour. When you have a high exercise identity, it may motivate you to exercise despite injury, time, and social obligations. Studies have found that those who have a high exercise identity feel a loss if forced to give up exercise and are highly exercise dependent. So, an exercise identity may be a factor in developing exercise dependence. Says research published in the ‘Journal of Behavior Addictions’, this is especially true of people with higher income.
