Some overweight people often fall for the ‘Go for the burn’ or ‘Sweating the fat out!’ myth and ignorantly indulge in vigorous exercises often in the heat or with warm clothing,’ in the hope that this ‘melts’ the fat which then comes out as sweat from the skin pores. The medical fact is that physiologically this is impossible, as fat is fat and sweat is sweat and never the twain shall meet.
The notion that excess weight can be sweated out although ridiculous is not at all funny, because an obese person undertaking heavy exercise like jogging, running, dancercise, weight lifting etc. may be entering into a dangerous sport. IN an obese person heavy exercise may lead to severe physical stress and strain loading on an already over burdened heart, leading to fatigue, exhaustion, and various other harmful effects on the body.
Most obese people are not accustomed to strenuous activity. Heavy exercise invariably makes them breathless.
Breathing becomes rapid and shallow. Oxygen intake decreases. Glucose in the body does not burn fully in the absence of adequate oxygen, resulting in an ‘abnormal’ physiological process known as incomplete oxidation, leading to accumulation of Lactic acid and Pyruvic acid as per the following reaction :
Glucose + Inadequate Oxygen Incomplete Oxidation Carbon Dioxide + Water + Decreased + Lactic Energy & Pyurvic Acid
The ‘lactic acid’ and ‘pyurvic acid’ are finally broken down in the liver. But their accumulation in body tissues cause severe fatigue, exhaustion, stress and strain in an obese person. The energy output also decreases making the obese person feel weak and lethargic.
A persistent accumulation of lactic and pyruvic acid in body tissues cause irritation of the heart muscle. Such a person becomes conscious of the racing beat or palpitation of his heart. He is short winded and has difficulty in getting his breath back on slight exertion. His heart may become enlarged, a condition thought to be due to body’s holding water in the heart in an attempt to dilute lactic and pyruvic acids accumulated there. If the condition increases in severity, the symptoms become exaggerated and the person may suddenly have heart failure.
Does this mean that exercise has no value in the treatment of obesity?
Routine exercise may not have any value in effecting a weight loss but exercise ‘does’ have an immense value in the treatment of obesity. For one, it helps to boost a medically oriented weight loss programme and secondly, it is wise to add to your reducing programme a few simple exercises which will tone up the body. Reducers especially need to exercise, as they need to counteract the sag, of overburdened, unused muscles and over stretched skin. A scientific aunderlying cause ofpproach which treats the obesity and guides you towards nutritionally balanced eating, will help firm up the muscles from inside as you burn up the excess fat. Simple exercises contribute towards healthy weight loss as they help restore the elasticity of muscular tone and strength, so necessary to a well-formed body.
A favourite exercise and one of the simplest, is good, time-tested practise of walking. A brisk walk along the beach, in the park or around your building block, with long strides and deep breathing can fill you with energy and a sense of well-being. Don’t walk with the intention of losing weight. Just walk for the joy of it.