WHEN IS BODY BUILDING CONSIDERED HEALTHY

WHEN IS BODY BUILDING CONSIDERED HEALTHY?

Body building is very much a visual sport; a bodybuilder's impressive physique is hard to ignore and recognizable world-over. Although these athletes spend an insane amount of time in the gym and perfecting their diets, how does this sport affect their overall health?

The intensive weight lifting and strength training that bodybuilders undergo changes their bodies, making them stronger and leaner. Building muscle mass is not only healthy in the short term, but can also have long-lasting health benefits. For example, according to LiveStrong, with age comes a loss of muscle mass and strength attributed to sarcopenia, the natural and normal decline in muscle. Building up muscle mass earlier in life can help to slow down this natural muscle decline, keeping your stronger for longer. In the long term, it can help you to live independently and maintain a better quality of life in your later years, though it does come with some potential downsides.

Unfortunately, while bodybuilding can benefit muscle and bone health, it can be detrimental to your overall heart health. For example, How Stuff Works reported that intense lifting, such as lifting more than half of your overall body weight, can put you at risk for tearing your aorta —an often fatal heart injury. However, this risk is only for those who weight lift to the extreme. In moderate amounts, strength training is also highly beneficial for your heart and lung health, and can improve the function of both these vital organs.
Along with weightlifting, bodybuilding is often associated with strict dieting to help get as lean and big as possible. Unfortunately, according to Healthline, many bodybuilders tend to restrict caloric intake and upload on protein while leaving out other important vitamins and nutrients. However, unhealthy dieting does not have to be a part of your bodybuilding routine, and maintaining a healthy diet can help you to reach your ultimate fitness goals.

As long as a person doesn’t become excessively obsessed with bodybuilding, it can improve their physiological and psychological health.
However, if a person decides to take various supplements, it would be wise to monitor their health or get regular check ups with their doctor to see if there are any adverse reactions occurring internally.