Too much exercise can kill

13 April 2012

The academic who trained David Walliams for his Channel swim has warned fitness fanatics that too much exercise can kill.

Professor Greg Whyte carried out a study that warns exercise can do "more harm than good".
He says too much exercise can cause women to become infertile and the thousands of men who play Sunday league football to suffer crippling injuries in old age.

He will present his findings at the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences' (Bases) annual conference at Wolverhampton University next week, as part of the debate: 'Exercise: Is it really good for you?'.

Prof White, director of science and research at the English Institute of Sport in Manchester, will argue that exercise can increase morbidity and mortality.

After training Little Britain star Walliams Prof Whyte attempted to swim the Channel himself on August 6 but was forced to abandon his bid due to poor weather conditions.

He has examined the negative impact of chronic training on health and mortality, including the harmful effects of chronic exercise on the body including skeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, immune and hormonal systems.

Prof Whyte said: "I know that I am being extremely contentious by concentrating on the negative consequences of exercise but the research that has been done provides some startling findings.

"From club level to elite athletes, there are a lot of incidents to suggest that sport is very dangerous.

"You only have to go down to your local A&E to see the place packed out with 'weekend warriors' who are suffering breaks, joint injuries and trauma injuries to their head and face.

"If exercise is taken to extremes by people then exercise can do more harm than good."

He continues: "There are cases of elite female athletes who restrict the calories they take, then lose their menstrual function and get low bone density which can have a profound effect on their health.

"There are numerous examples of spinal injuries amongst rugby players, as well as data on osteoarthritis and footballers suffering problems from long periods of playing, which can later reduce their quality of life.

"Then there are the incidents of sudden deaths associated with cardio-vascular problems and asthma.

"The bottom line is that moderate physical activity is good for you but exercise of the kind done by elite sportsmen and women can be detrimental to your health."

Among the dozens of new research being unveiled by international researchers at the three day conference at Wolverhampton University is work on the use of music, music videos and hypnosis in sport and how exercising can influence performance at work.

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