Over exercise

What is over-exercise?

Although exercise is needed to have a fit and healthy body, there are certain limits to which the body can bear physical stress, and exceeding this limit is called over exercise. Over-exercise may lead to many problems and hamper even regular activities of the individual.

What are its main signs and symptoms?

The following are the signs and symptoms of over exercise:

• Tiredness
• Irritability and mood swings
• Difficulty in falling asleep
• Excessive weight loss leading to body mass index below normal
• Anxiety
• Catching a cold more often
• Feeling heavy limbs and sore muscles
• Feeling depressed
• Injuries due to excessive exercise

What are the main causes?

The main causes of over exercise are as follows:

• Compulsive exercise which causes depression, anxiety, irritability and other problems if the individual does not exercise.
• Bulimia nervosa, an eating disorder, in which overeating is followed by over exercise. Individuals with bulimia nervosa are very particular, almost obsessive, about their body shape and weight, and resort to various methods to lose weight as they think they are overweight.

How is it diagnosed and treated?

One should consult a doctor if he/she cannot control the amount of exercise performed and there are signs of over exercise. The doctor will perform a physical examination and ask certain questions related to the condition. The doctor will identify the cause of overtraining and may recommend you to a counsellor if compulsive exercise or bulimia nervosa is suspected.

The following methods may be used to treat the condition:

• Anti-depressant medications
• Cognitive behavioural therapy
• Support groups

Some lifestyle changes to reduce and manage over exercise are:

• Balance your food intake with the level of exercise you perform
• Drink plenty of fluids while exercising
• Avoid exercising in extreme cold and heat
• Sleep for at least eight hours at night
• Rest for at least six hours between two sessions of exercise
• Take one day off from exercise every week

1. National Health Service [Internet]. UK; Bulimia.
2. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: US National Library of Medicine; Are you getting too much exercise?
3. Mia Beck Lichtenstein et al. Compulsive exercise: links, risks and challenges faced . Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017; 10: 85–95. PMID: 28435339
4. Better health channel. Department of Health and Human Services [internet]. State government of Victoria; Exercise safety
5. Better health channel. Department of Health and Human Services [internet]. State government of Victoria; Physical activity - it's important
6. National Health Service [Internet]. UK; Exercise.