Physical activity and exercise help to improve people’s sleep, strength, and mental health. It also reduces the risk of chronic conditions and premature death (Ducharme, 2024). As per a survey, it is obvious that one-third of U.S. adults offer some amount that they can continue their physical activity in their free time. Within the government subsidy, people can participate in 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic movement every day and invest time in muscle-strengthening sessions every week (Ducharme, 2024). It is observed that wealthier people engage in exercise and physical activities to stay healthy, fit, and active income to the people who don’t have sufficient financial abilities. The West Virginia University exercise psychologist, Sam Zizzi, said “Feeling good about your ability is crucial to finding the motivation to exercise” (Ducharme, 2024). The exercise psychologist also recommends starting exercise in small steps from walking a few minutes to walking hours every day.
The opposite side of the coin
Every coin has its opposite side, dieting and exercise help to lose weight but too much diet and exercise can harm physical and mental health. This can be also the cause of memory loss and delayed response. As the research was presented at the Alzheimer’s Association 2009 International Conference on Alzheimer’s diseases, the research explores that, investing the majority of time in exercise and dieting can be the reason for damage to the brain (Rupavate, 2014). Excessive exercise and dieting have a huge impact on the hippocampus which helps to learn new skills, gain knowledge, and create new memories.
Medical facts
It is found by research that 60% of the brain is built by fat. Excessive dieting and excessive exercise become the reason behind losing cognitive skills. The brain needs omega-3 fatty acid which the brain consumes from food (Rupavate, 2014). According to the research of Harvard University scientists, a deficiency of omega-3 in brain cells causes multiple disruptions such as late response to brain signals, poor concentration, depression, mood swings, dementia, and bipolar disorder (Rupavate, 2014). So it can be evaluated that losing weight is good for health, also dieting and exercise are essential to lose weight (Rupavate, 2014). But it is important to keep in mind that nothing is too good, every action has some limitations. Exercise and weight lifting can help to build muscle, and help lose weight but excessive exercise and unnecessary weight lifting can be dangerous for both mental and physical health.
Necessity of brain
The brain demands 25% of metabolic energy and a huge quantity of energy (Shaw, 2018). During birth, the size of the brain of babies is bigger than the size of other organs. During birth in comparison to the adults the brain size of the babies is 50% less (Shaw, 2018). Till 2 years of age brain develops 75% in comparison to an adult brain size. During this period the babies need high metabolic energy and the proper amount of omega-3. People lift weights to develop the muscles of their body which consume a huge amount of metabolic energy. In concentrating on bodybuilding, weight lifting, and heavy lifting people forget about the brain and its required demands. As a result, people suffer from depression, poor concentration, memory loss, late response to brain signals, mood swings, and bipolar disorders. GLUT4 is a glucose transport mechanism that transports energy to the fat tissues and muscles and is fully dependent on insulin (Shaw, 2018). While building bodies, muscles, and weight lifting people start to restrict certain calories which become the imbalance of insulin and glucagon levels. Due to calorie restriction, insulin secretion decreases, and instead of insulin glucagon starts increasing. As a result, the brain stops its function due to the lack of energy, insulin, and metabolic energy. Before building muscles and giving them priority everyone should give priority to the health of the brain and neurons.
Alternative studies and arguments
Some people claims that “weight lifting makes dumb brain” which is not right. Weight lifting never left any negative impact on people’s brain. But it is also a fact that is a person lift excessive weight and follows calories restriction without any proper recommendation and suggestion of specialist then it can be cause of several psychological disorder and the mental health will get disrupts. Brain needs metabolic energy, oxygen, and insulin, it consume those sources from food so it is necessary to take care about the requirements of brain besides body. In an alternative study, it was found that people who lift weights less than 80% of their single repetition get huge relief from anxiety and depression (Shaw, 2018). Heavy lifting, exercise, and workouts help to overcome mental and physical challenges. It helps to overcome depression and anxiety and it works like a stress reliever (Shaw, 2018). Lifting weight is not bad but while lifting weight people forget about the necessity of brain and body requirements. For that reason, some researcher claims that weightlifting makes people dumb which is not right at all. Weightlifting never makes people dumb (Shaw, 2018). But partially it is also correct that the people who don’t give priority to the requirement of the brain and due to calorie restriction forget about the insulin requirement of the brain. As a result, they suffer from late response to brain signals, poor concentration, depression, mood swings, dementia, and bipolar disorder.
Age-related factors
Lifting the weight of children and old people can impact mental health but an adult person can lift weight if they are concerned about their brain’s necessity. But if children or an ager people take the proper guidance of an exercise trainer then they can lift heavy weights (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2018). If an adult person consumes food the brain can consume oxygen, metabolic energy, and insulin then the person is allowed to lift the weight (Pierce et al., 2022). But if a person gives more priority to building body muscle then it will make a huge impact on mental health. Children and ager people need more energy and oxygen because children’s brain needs to develop, they need more energy and oxygen. The aged person has limited energy so they have to consume a proper diet food and maintain food balance to supply energy and oxygen to the brain. Both children and old people have to have a balanced diet and have to consume proper calories and nutrition to fulfil the needs of the brain.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that lifting weights is good for the brain but restricting calories, and not fulfilling the necessities brain is not good at all. This can be the cause of losing memory, because of being dumb, feeling depressed, become anxious and stressed.
Reference List
Babaei, P. and Azari, H.B. (2022). Exercise Training Improves Memory Performance in Older Adults: A Narrative Review of Evidence and Possible Mechanisms. ProQuest, [online] 15(771553). doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2021.771553.
Ducharme, J. (2024). Your Brain Doesn’t Want You to Exercise. [online] TIME. Available at: https://time.com/6590020/why-its-so-hard-to-motivate-yourself-to-exercise/.
Mayo Clinic Staff (2018). When can your kids start strength training? [online] Mayo Clinic. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/strength-training/art-20047758.
Pierce, K.C., Hornsby, W.G. and Stone, M.H. (2022). Weightlifting for Children and Adolescents: A Narrative Review. Sports health, [online] 14(1), pp.45–56. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/19417381211056094.
Rupavate, S. (2014). Can too much exercise and dieting actually make you dumb? | TheHealthSite.com. [online] www.thehealthsite.com. Available at: https://www.thehealthsite.com/fitness/can-too-much-exercising-and-dieting-actually-make-you-dumb-187279/.
Shaw, S. (2018). Does Weight Lifting Make You Stupid? [online] Tiger Fitness. Available at: https://www.tigerfitness.com/blogs/motivation/weight-lifting-make-you-stupid?srsltid=AfmBOoq9brl2pNpGdfuh7t9NjHg5IGVMl0CCBx9LRak5-nKCnG1IwERF [Accessed 6 Oct. 2024].
vkim (2022). The (Updated) 10 Rules of Strength Training at the Gym. [online] Muscle & Fitness. Available at: https://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/workout-tips/the-updated-10-rules-of-strength-training-at-the-gym/ [Accessed 6 Oct. 2024].
