An Analyzing of the Relationship Between Exercise Addiction and Obesity Awareness

Abstract

Depending on the developing technology, individuals started to pursue a less active lifestyle. The sedentary lifestyle has brought along many health problems. One of these health problems is obesity. Awareness of obesity is important for individual health. One of the applications that can be implemented to cope with obesity is exercise. This study aims to analyze the relationship between university students’ exercise addiction and obesity awareness. Therefore, 249 university students (132 males, 117 females) participated in the study. In the study, the “Exercise Addiction Scale” developed by Tekkurşun-Demir, Hazar and Cicioğlu (2018) and the “Obesity Awareness” scale developed by Allen (2011) and adapted to Turkish culture by Kafkas and Özen (2014) were used as data collection tools. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistical methods, t-test for independent groups and one-way variance (ANOVA). Correlation test was employed to determine the relationship between exercise addiction and obesity awareness. As a result of the research, it was determined that students’ awareness of exercise addiction and obesity was at a moderate level. It was determined that exercise addiction had a significant effect on average the number of steps taken per day. Besides, it was determined that there was a low level of a positive relationship between exercise addiction and obesity awareness.