I think OP is confusing two different issues here...Overtraining and exercise addiction are not the same thing....Exercise addiction is when your entire life revolves around obsessive exercising and that's all you ever think about. It often happens to people who suffer from body image problems or body dysmorphia. and they're using exercise with hopes of correcting flaws in their physical appearance.....Overtraining happens to pro athletes who train for events which they are competing in, it can also happen to amateur athletes, fitness people, gym rats and your average weekend warriors who set unrealistic fitness/performance goals and get a little too obsessed with improving their performance.