Can you become addicted to exercise?

You know those people who say they're addicted to running, like they can't skip a day or they'll freak out? They may not be exaggerating. A new study, conducted on rats and published in Behavioral Neuroscience, showed that very intense exercise can become as addicting as narcotics. In the study, rats who ran the hardest and ate the least suffered the worst withdrawal symptoms when injected with a drug that mimics heroin withdrawal.

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But before you take that as a cue to pick up the remote control and a bag of chips, Robin Kanarek, lead author of the study, said that in fact, it supports the idea that moderation is key. "Exercise, as long as it doesn't interfere with other aspects of one's life, is a good thing with respect to both physical and mental health," she said.

Related: Three easy recessionista workout moves you can do at home.


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