To some people, the feeling obtained through exercising can be just as addictive as a drug. Though seeking a high through physical activity is undoubtedly better than through a dangerous drug, and though we all know that exercising regularly has numerous positive effects on the body, over-exercising is a very real threat for physical and emotional reasons.
The Physical
A body has physical limits, and those limits vary from person to person. It is for this reason that no one definitive guideline can exist to indicate the exact level at which exercise becomes excessive. The goal of exercising is to strengthen and tone the body to be fitter and healthier, but exercising multiple hours a day with intense practices can strain the body’s ligaments, tendons, bones, and joints to cause injuries that prevent the body from becoming stronger.
Along these same lines, if you are pushing your body beyond the extreme day in and day out in pursuit of the perfect body, you might end up draining yourself and weakening your immune system in the process. Infections and illnesses would be likely to follow, again subtracting from the healthy benefits you were seeking.
The Emotional
Extreme over-exercising can also become an emotional and mental problem when it becomes an obsessive behavior. Some people who over-exercise form an unhealthy body image and prioritize exercising over work, relationships, or school in an effort to achieve a certain appearance. Over-exercising can also lead to withdrawal symptoms on days when it’s not possible to exercise: depression, mood shifts, anxiety, and sleep disturbances are all common.
At the end of the day, exercising is a very important element of maintaining healthy and wellness. In a country where more and more of the population can be defined as obese, it’s vital for people to continue exercising and seeking healthy habits. That fitness just needs to be maintained within the realm of reason to avoid the downfalls of over-exercising.