Bad Things Happen When You Stop Going to the Gym

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

08 Nov 2008 08:40 PM

Remember when you first got your gym membership? Everything was new and exciting; you were determined to drop excess weight, get fit, and look great for your high school reunion, pool party, 40th birthday, etc. You used that adrenaline to fuel regular gym visits for the first month or so, then you discovered how easy it was to skip the gym one day, then the next day and the day after that.

If this scenario sounds familiar to you, I have bad news: A new University of Missouri study found that the negative effects of skipping exercise can occur in a short period. In a stunning claim, researchers say they found that a sudden transition to a sedentary lifestyle could rapidly lead to symptoms of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (hepatic steatosis), which affects at least 75 percent of obese people.

Doctors define nonalcoholic fatty liver disease as a reversible condition that causes fat to accumulate in liver cells of obese people. The study's results are particularly concerning for people residing in the United States where excess weight gain is an epidemic, and the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is growing.

"This study has important implications for obese humans who continually stop and start exercise programs," noted the lead author of the study. "Our findings strongly suggest that a sudden transition to a sedentary lifestyle increases susceptibility to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease."

According to researchers, when a person stops exercising on a daily basis he or she dramatically activates specific precursors known to promote hepatic steatosis. The precursors are most notable in obese individuals who continually stop and start exercise programs.

In the study, researchers gave obese rats access to running wheels for 16 weeks. In week 17 researchers locked the wheels, and transitioned the animals to a sedentary condition. According to the study, within seven days, the rats began showing signs of precursors that indicate hepatic steatosis.

Subsequently, researchers concluded that physical activity prevented fatty liver disease by 100 percent in animals. Scientists are calling the study a "remarkable event" given how rare it is for any treatment to prevent any disease by 100 percent.

Food for thought the next time you are considering passing up a trip to the gym for extra time on the couch.

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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