Physical activity and exercise help improve people’s sleep, strength and mental health. It also reduces the risk of chronic diseases and premature death (Ducharme, 2024). According to a survey, it is evident that a third of American adults give some amount of money to be able to continue their physical activity in their free time. Thanks to the government subsidy, people can participate in 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise each day and invest time in muscle-strengthening sessions each week (Ducharme, 2024). It is observed that wealthier people engage in exercise and physical activities to stay healthy, fit and provide active income for people who do not have sufficient financial capabilities. Sam Zizzi, an exercise psychologist at West Virginia University, said, “Feeling good about your abilities is crucial for finding the motivation to exercise” (Ducharme, 2024). The exercise psychologist also recommends starting exercise in small steps, from a few minutes to a few hours of walking each day.
The other side of the coin
Every coin has its flipside: dieting and exercising help you lose weight, but too much dieting and exercising can harm your physical and mental health. It can also be the cause of memory loss and delayed response. As the research was presented at the 2009 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease, the research explores that investing the majority of time in exercise and dieting may be to the origin of brain damage (Rupavate, 2014). Excessive exercise and dieting have a huge impact on the hippocampus, which helps in learning new skills, gaining knowledge, and creating new memories.
Medical facts
Research has shown that 60% of the brain is built by fat. Excessive diet and excessive exercise become the reason for the loss of cognitive abilities. The brain needs omega-3 fatty acids which it consumes in food (Rupavate, 2014). According to research by scientists at Harvard University, omega-3 deficiency in brain cells causes multiple disturbances such as delayed response to brain signals, poor concentration, depression, mood swings, dementia and bipolar disorder (Rupavate, 2014). It can therefore be assessed that losing weight is good for health, and dieting and exercise are also essential for losing weight (Rupavate, 2014). But it is important to keep in mind that nothing is too good, every action has its limits. Exercise and strength training can help build muscle and lose weight, but excessive exercise and unnecessary lifting can be dangerous to mental and physical health.
Necessity of the brain
The brain requires 25% of metabolic energy and a huge amount of energy (Shaw, 2018). At birth, babies’ brains are larger than other organs. At birth, compared to adults, babies’ brain size is 50% smaller (Shaw, 2018). Until the age of 2, the brain develops to 75% of the size of an adult brain. During this period, babies need high metabolic energy and an appropriate amount of omega-3. People lift weights to build muscles in their body which consume a huge amount of metabolic energy. By focusing on bodybuilding, weightlifting, and heavy lifting, people forget about the brain and its demands. As a result, people suffer from depression, lack of concentration, memory loss, delayed response to brain signals, mood swings and bipolar disorder. GLUT4 is a glucose transport mechanism that transports energy to adipose tissue and muscle and is entirely dependent on insulin (Shaw, 2018). While building their body, muscles and lifting weights, people begin to restrict certain calories, leading to an imbalance in insulin and glucagon levels. Due to calorie restriction, insulin secretion decreases, and instead of insulin, glucagon begins to increase. As a result, the brain stops functioning due to lack of energy, insulin and metabolic energy. Before building and prioritizing muscle, everyone should prioritize brain and neuron health.
Alternative studies and arguments
Some people claim that “weightlifting makes the brain stupid,” which is not true. Weightlifting has never left any negative impact on people’s brains. But it is also a fact that if a person lifts excessive weight and follows calorie restriction without any recommendation or proper suggestion from a specialist, it can be the cause of several psychological disorders and mental health will be disturbed. The brain needs metabolic energy, oxygen and insulin, it consumes these sources from food, so it is necessary to take care of the needs of the brain in addition to the body. In an alternative study, it was found that people who lifted weights for less than 80% of their single repetition experienced tremendous relief from anxiety and depression (Shaw, 2018). Heavy lifting, exercise and workouts help overcome mental and physical challenges. It helps overcome depression and anxiety and acts as a pain reliever (Shaw, 2018). Lifting weight is not bad, but in lifting weight people forget the necessity of the brain and body needs. For this reason, some researchers claim that weightlifting makes people stupid, which is not correct at all. Weightlifting never makes people stupid (Shaw, 2018). But it is also partly true that people who do not prioritize the brain’s needs and, due to calorie restriction, forget about the brain’s need for insulin. As a result, they suffer from delayed response to brain signals, lack of concentration, depression, mood swings, dementia and bipolar disorder.
Age-related factors
Lifting weight in children and older adults can impact mental health, but an adult can lift weight if they are concerned about the needs of their brain. But if children or older people follow proper guidance from a 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 their muscles, it will have a huge impact on their mental health. Children and the elderly need more energy and oxygen, because children’s brains need to develop and they need more energy and oxygen. The elderly person has limited energy and therefore must consume appropriate diet foods and maintain a nutritional balance to provide energy and oxygen to the brain. Children and the elderly should eat a balanced diet and consume adequate calories and nutrition to meet the needs of the brain.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that lifting weights is good for the brain, but limiting calories and not meeting the needs of the brain is not good at all. This can be the cause of memory loss, being stupid, feeling depressed, anxious and stressed.
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Pierce, KC, Hornsby, WG, & Stone, MH (2022). Weightlifting for children and adolescents: a narrative review. Sports health, [online] 14(1), pp. 45–56. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/19417381211056094.
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