GAY NEWS
Addicted to Exercise? Study Suggests Brain Gets Hooked on Heavy Workouts
By L. K. Regan
Published Aug 27, 2009
Published Aug 27, 2009
Exercise can be habit-forming, as many of us know. But a new study suggests it can be really addictive—in the same way as heroin or other opiates. Regular exercisers need not fear, as this research applies only to very intense bouts of exercise. But the researchers hope their work might have implications for both drug addiction and exercise-related eating disorders.
The study, led by researchers at Tufts University, was particularly interested in triggering some of the effects of anorexia athletica, an eating disorder whose sufferers exercise compulsively in the pursuit of constant weight loss. So, the researchers divided rats into high-activity and inactive groups, and then divided both groups by how much food they received: a mere hour per day for one group versus all-you-can-eat for the other. To add complexity, the rats were all given naloxone, a drug that is prescribed for heroin overdose but that presents immediate symptoms of withdrawal in opiate users. If exercise is an addiction, the researchers reason, it will impact the opiate receptors in the brain, much like heroin. Add naloxone to block those receptors, and, if the exercise was in fact addictive, the subject should go into withdrawal. Withdrawal has unmistakable physical symptoms, and is therefore measurable. An addicted rat in withdrawal behaves just like a person in the same situation, with trembling, writhing, teeth chattering, and drooping eyelids.
And that, in fact, is exactly what happened. The active rats that were food-restricted chose to run the most on an exercise wheel, and had the most severe symptoms of withdrawal. They lost substantial amounts of weight, just like a person with anorexia athletica. On the other hand, the inactive rats, food intake notwithstanding, had little reaction to the naloxone. The conclusion, according to researcher Dr. Robin Kanarek of Tufts University: "Exercise, like drugs of abuse, leads to the release of neurotransmitters such as endorphins and dopamine, which are involved with a sense of reward." A really intense workout gets you genuinely high.
The average person has little to fear from this research, which pertains to very extreme exercise. As Dr. Kanarek summarizes, "As with food intake and other parts of life, moderation seems to be the key. Exercise, as long as it doesn't interfere with other aspects of one's life, is a good thing with respect to both physical and mental health." Still, the researchers hope that research of this sort, that investigates how behavior might trigger the release of pleasure-inducing brain chemicals, will have potential for treating both anorexia athletica and drug addiction. Though these were until recently believed to be completely distinct behaviors, increasingly research is linking the diverse ways our brains seek pleasure from our environment.
The study, led by researchers at Tufts University, was particularly interested in triggering some of the effects of anorexia athletica, an eating disorder whose sufferers exercise compulsively in the pursuit of constant weight loss. So, the researchers divided rats into high-activity and inactive groups, and then divided both groups by how much food they received: a mere hour per day for one group versus all-you-can-eat for the other. To add complexity, the rats were all given naloxone, a drug that is prescribed for heroin overdose but that presents immediate symptoms of withdrawal in opiate users. If exercise is an addiction, the researchers reason, it will impact the opiate receptors in the brain, much like heroin. Add naloxone to block those receptors, and, if the exercise was in fact addictive, the subject should go into withdrawal. Withdrawal has unmistakable physical symptoms, and is therefore measurable. An addicted rat in withdrawal behaves just like a person in the same situation, with trembling, writhing, teeth chattering, and drooping eyelids.
And that, in fact, is exactly what happened. The active rats that were food-restricted chose to run the most on an exercise wheel, and had the most severe symptoms of withdrawal. They lost substantial amounts of weight, just like a person with anorexia athletica. On the other hand, the inactive rats, food intake notwithstanding, had little reaction to the naloxone. The conclusion, according to researcher Dr. Robin Kanarek of Tufts University: "Exercise, like drugs of abuse, leads to the release of neurotransmitters such as endorphins and dopamine, which are involved with a sense of reward." A really intense workout gets you genuinely high.
The average person has little to fear from this research, which pertains to very extreme exercise. As Dr. Kanarek summarizes, "As with food intake and other parts of life, moderation seems to be the key. Exercise, as long as it doesn't interfere with other aspects of one's life, is a good thing with respect to both physical and mental health." Still, the researchers hope that research of this sort, that investigates how behavior might trigger the release of pleasure-inducing brain chemicals, will have potential for treating both anorexia athletica and drug addiction. Though these were until recently believed to be completely distinct behaviors, increasingly research is linking the diverse ways our brains seek pleasure from our environment.
willhenry wrote:
Yes, the variables are not specified much but I strongly agree with this article. The more rigirous my workouts are the more pleasure and satisfaction I get from them. I started doing isolation then polymetrics. Now, I'm circuit training with a 60 minute cardio session after strength training. The stronger and leaner I get, the more I want. But I eat very healthy and hydrate well. Is that really dangerous?
Sep 06 1:34 PM
bimarriedingso wrote:
This summary doesn't really do justice to the variables in this study. What the heck is anorexia athletica? To my knowledge, that isn't a DSM IV-TR diagnosis, and the tone of the terminology suggests pathology. What is the BMI of the participants? Is this merely an animal model of exercise in humans? If so, how does it map on?
They hint at neurotransmitters and then don't specify measurements at all.
What an interesting empirical question (e.g., extreme exercise and brain function), but what a wasteful experimental explanation.
Two thumbs down.
Sep 05 5:07 PM
Charliez wrote:
I agree with the article. It's gotten so that I have to START with heavier and heavier weights now. My gym partner and I can't do the same things anymore because I'm just not motivated to go lighter anymore. Good stuff.
Sep 02 9:39 PM
Deadbeet wrote:
Not really that surprising. Just take a look around at any gym, there's at least 1~3 guys that are REALLY into their work outs. Sometimes I wish I enjoyed working out as much. Going to the gym alone sucks.
Aug 29 2:58 AM
Vlas wrote:
**So much more variable
Aug 29 1:36 AM
Vlas wrote:
Ugh, I hate how this article doesn't get more specific than the term "exercise." Most of these studies are based on cardio, but there's really no animal research done on weightlifting; you can't really get rats to lift weights, but you can get them to run. The generalizability to humans is crap since our exercise habits are so much variable.
Aug 29 1:35 AM
RyanReBoRn wrote:
Really now... is being committed exercise such a bad thing? xD
Aug 29 12:29 AM