Exercise addiction and the endorphin high.

Is it time the fitness centers,psychologists and doctors came up with more public information about the long term effects of being addicted to regular doses of “endorphin high” ?

I recently joined a local fitness center here in the bay area since my new apartment does not have a very good gym.My friends in general seem to have become much more fitness conscious both here and in India(where I grew up). I know a lot more people who are preparing/training for marathons and triathlons.All this is very good.

But I seem to notice a very disturbing trend these days , that of exercising too much.It seems like some form of workout addiction or people simply seeking “the endorphin rush” , “the runners high” , “hitting the wall” or “some-other-feel-good-hormone-release” .

I keep hearing statements like -”My doctor asked me not to run for the next 2 weeks , but I don’t think I can function/concentrate without exercising.” It seems like more and more people are getting addicted to the “feel good hormone release” and there just doesn’t seem to be enough awareness about the how and why of this. I am not even sure if there are any long term consequences to this. I know a few people who do the east coast -west coast travel from monday to friday and regularly run 15k’s next day despite the jet lag. Its awesome but how good is it for the body and mind?

What really is worrying about this trend is that ,this addiction seems to have a very good smokescreen - that of “health and fitness and discipline”.