Regular physical activity is compulsory for everyone. It helps to maintain the health of a person, helps to control weight, lowers the risk of heart diseases, increases stamina, boosts energy levels, helps in muscle toning etc. But even physical activity has to be done in moderation. People think that the more they work out the better will be for them to reduce weight. But how far is this true?
For most of the people exercise is good but a small percentage of people like perfectionists, athletes have an addiction to exercise. It is called “overtraining syndrome” which has both physical and physiological manifestations. They think that two-hour run or exercising for more than an hour makes them healthy but it’s not the case. Thirty minutes a day of moderate physical activity is enough to help prevent lifestyle diseases like diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
Too much of exercise leads to injuries, dehydration, depression, fatigue, apathy, irritability and it may end up in physical harm or suicide. If a person over exercises the body goes in starvation mode and the adrenal glands releases the hormone cortisol, a hormone which helps to mobilize sugar into energy.
Increased cortisol levels inhibit fat metabolism and the body instead of using fat as a source of energy eats up the muscle thereby reducing the muscle mass. There is decreased immunity, the body gets more prone to injuries and decreased fat which leads to the cessation of periods(a condition called amenorrhea).
Research shows that many female athletes who over train begin to experience bone loss that apparently can’t be reversed if the amenorrhea persists long enough.
So moderation is the key for any fitness regime.
1 Comment
Very informative