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Exercising Too Much and Too Often Is Just as Deadly as Sitting on the Couch All Day

Study finds the key to keeping fit and lowering early death risk is to go for light jogs every once in a while

Feb 3, 2015 07:37 GMT  ·  By
Jogging too much and too often can kill, researchers warn
   Jogging too much and too often can kill, researchers warn

Not long ago, researchers with Canada's University Health Network told us that, if we sit too much for the better part of the day, we have high chances to develop all sorts of health complications and die an early death, regardless of how much we exercise when we finally get off our behinds.

In a new paper, Danish researchers argue that, as surprising as this may sound, exercising too much and too often can also prove deadly. Thus, they say that those who strain their body in a desperate attempt to be fit are just as likely to experience a premature death as those who sit on the couch all day.

There really is such a thing as exercising too much

Writing in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the Danish specialists now saying that exercising too much and too often is just as bad as sitting all day explain that, as part of their study, they monitored a total of 1,089 joggers and 413 sedentary guys and gals for over 12 years.

The focus was on determining how their (lack of) exercise routine influenced these people's overall health condition and their risk to die a premature death. Much to their surprise, the avid joggers were found to have nearly the same mortality risk as the sedentary individuals included in this study.

This association was documented despite the fact that, on average, the joggers monitored as part of this investigation had a lower body mass index, lower blood pressure, and were less likely to have diabetes or smoke, says specialist Peter Schnohr with the Frederiksberg Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Moderation is the key, scientists say

Researcher Peter Schnohr and his colleagues argue that, all things considered, the best way to keep fit and avoid medical complications is to exercise moderately on a regular basis. Specifically, the specialists say that jogging at a light pace a total of 1 to 2.4 hours per week should do the trick.

What's more, the researchers say that it would be best if the frequency of jogging were limited to no more than 3 times per week. Apparently, it is this exercise routine that yields the best results when it comes to improving one's overall health condition and reducing mortality risk.

“If your goal is to decrease risk of death and improve life expectancy, jogging a few times a week at a moderate pace is a good strategy. Anything more is not just unnecessary, it may be harmful,” specialist Peter Schnohr commented on the outcome of this investigation.