We asked Dr Joseph Ciccolo, an exercise scientist and assistant professor at Brown University, to outline how weight, health, and running performance are linked. If you’re unsure if you’re at a healthy weight, ask your doctor or use our BMI calculator.
Carrying excess weight puts pressure on your joints and can lead to hip, knee, and ankle injuries, says Ciccolo. Gradually increase weekly mileage to avoid excess strain on your joints.
You may not be able to chase down a PB if you’re carrying extra weight, but you’ll certainly have the energy to run hard and are at little risk of injury.
For most runners, this is the best place to be. With proper training, your risk of injury is low and you should feel energetic, fast, and emotionally balanced.
Stress fractures become more likely because your bones suffer from being under-nourished. Also, you’ll fatigue earlier during runs and may suffer uncomfortable post-exercise symptoms such as headaches and lethargy.
If you’re under-nourished, your pace suffers as your body breaks down muscle for energy instead of using food as fuel. Loss of muscle also disrupts hormone function.
If you’ve basically stopped eating, you tax your heart so much that you’re at risk of a heart attack or stroke. Eating disorders are also considered psychiatric illnesses.
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HI
Wow I really found this interesting! Now I have a question? I think there are many myths and different opinions to this and I would love to hear your opinion!
What is the best result when wanting to loose weight?
- To do long distance running like 5km and more or
- To do short distances like 200 m but as hard as you can and as many as you can?
I understand its 2 different exercises but what effect does it have on the body! I have been fortunate enough and don’t get me wrong but I’ve managed to loose 35 kg in 1 year 2 months with not more than 7 days of exercise and all natural!NO pills and NO exercise what so ever!
I understand you need to exercise when wanting to loose and on top your body and blood and organs all function better and thats why I want to know what the result will be when wanting to loose weight when doing the 2 different styles of running?
Will the scale stay the same or increase due to muscle gain when running hard and intense or will it drop like I want it to?do you burn more calories when running hard but short periods or long distances over a longer time period?
Ultimately my goal is to loose 50 kg in total so need another 15kg to loose but i do feel my body is telling me its time to start doing something like running and not only rely on healthy living/eating?
Hope to hear from you
thanks
Jacq Terblanche