[Lifestyle] Can high intensity exercise lead to weight gain?

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Conventional wisdom has long touted high intensity exercise as an effective way to burn calories and facilitate weight loss. However, a new study is challenging this widely-held belief, suggesting that pushing yourself too hard may actually have the opposite effect. Lead researcher Takashi Matsui, PhD, from the Institute of Health and Sport Sciences at the University of Tsukuba in Japan, explained the key findings of the study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, to Medical News Today. He said, “Our study found that while exercise is a powerful strategy for weight loss, a single session of high-intensity exercise that induces heavy sweating can significantly reduce subsequent physical activity and core body temperature, leading to weight gain. Interestingly, this weight gain occurs despite no changes in food intake.” This counterintuitive conclusion runs contrary to mainstream fitness advice. Dr Jagadish J Hiremath, medical director at AASRA Hospitals, says, “Contrary to po[CENSORED]r belief, high-intensity exercise (HIE) can, under certain circumstances, contribute to an increase in body weight. This unexpected outcome is attributed to the complex interplay of hormones within the body, particularly cortisol, the stress hormone.”HIE can disrupt the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, he adds, known as the circadian rhythm, and trigger a surge in cortisol levels. Elevated cortisol not only amplifies appetite but also saps motivation for further physical activity. This vicious cycle leads to increased calorie consumption, often exceeding the calories burned during exercise, ultimately tipping the scales towards weight gain. Effects of high-intensity exercise on metabolism According to Dr Hiremath, “High-intensity exercise puts the body’s metabolism through a series of peaks and valleys. Initially, it ignites a metabolic fire, accelerating calorie expenditure. However, the surge in cortisol that accompanies HIE acts as a double-edged sword.”

https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/fitness/high-intensity-exercise-weight-gain-fitness-workout-health-9395912/