Exercise Addiction Research Paper

Words: 1804
Pages: 8

Though doctors claim this is the healthiest addiction to have (Keene), exercise addiction can be serious and life threatening. It is thought to affect between 0.3 and 0.5% of people worldwide and 1.9 and 3.2% of regular exercisers (Hausenblas et al). Jacqueline Howard states that these may seem like small percentages, but it is still hundreds of thousands of people. Although men and women are equally at risk for exercise addiction (Howard), they usually acquire it for different reasons. Men tend to over exercise in order to improve their health, while women are more focused on their body image (Miller). Despite the genders equal risk of acquiring exercise addiction, there are some factors in life that increase the chances of getting it. Exercise addiction has shown …show more content…
Exercise releases hormones that increase the ability for muscles to absorb amino acids, which helps increase muscle mass and it reduces their breakdown (Semeco). In other words, exercising helps build and maintain muscles. Arlene Semeco later states that exercise builds bone density when someone is young and helps prevent osteoporosis when they are older. Exercise can also reduce pain, including chronic pain, by increasing pain tolerance and decreasing pain perception (Semeco). Exercise is not only an efficient pain reliever, but it also can relieve chronic diseases.
Lack of exercise is the main cause of chronic disease (Semeco). Exercise improves insulin sensitivity, body composition, cardiovascular fitness, blood pressure, and blood fat levels (Semeco). A lack of exercise will negatively increase or decrease these improvements which can lead to serious health issues. For example, when someone does not exercise, they can have an increase in belly fat, which can increase their risk of type-two diabetes, heart disease, and early death (Semeco). While exercise can improve serious health issues, it can also benefit less serious