Exercise is as addictive as booze and fags, say scientists

[private_ryan]

Tim Radford
Monday December 1, 2003
The Guardian

It's now official. Some joggers may become addicted to running just as other people become hooked on cocaine, tobacco or booze, according to new research today.

The proposition that exercise can trigger a "high" based on brain chemistry has been around for decades. But there has been less research into what happens when the trainers are locked away and the tracksuit sent to the cleaners. Now a team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has confirmed that not pumping iron or pounding the pavement could trigger telltale changes in neuronal activity. They watched mice manically sprinting on exercise wheels and then measured withdrawal symptoms when they are kept off the treadmill.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1096705,00.html

[Richardo]

1. Cor blimey! That British slang makes for some provocative headlines...

:D

[David__77]

2. I'm addicted to exercise, and I'm gay...

This headline, while I understand the British slang, applies to me certainly!

[private_ryan]

4. you're gay

but are you addicted to fags :)?

Does anyone know the history of the gay /fag /homosexual labels? Like where they came from etc.

[TSElliott]

10. History of the word "fag"

Fag originally came from the British word "Faggot" which was the word for a bundle of something combustible on the end of a stick.

Because Homosexuals were usually burned at the stake when found in early times the word Faggot was used. This is probably also were the term flamer came from.

[Closer]

11. The word

faggot literally means a bundle of twigs and leaves. When homosexuals were burned at the stake, folks would stand around chanting "burn the fag, burn the fag." And thus the word became associated with homosexual men.


Classy eh? :eyes:

[Touchdown]

12. History about "Faggot" is in the Bible.

Faggot is referenced in the KJV a few times. It means bundle of sticks to start a fire (kindling). Now, the story goes that during the middle ages, where burning at the stake for any non-conformity was commonplace, those guilty of sodomy (all sex crimes, regardless of hetero/homo) were also burned at the stake. It takes a faggot to get the bonfire going. So, Faggot was attributed to homosexuals because they, along with numerous other sinners were burned at the stake. Fag is just the American shortened version of it.

Homosexual was coined by the newly formed science of psychiatric evaluation sometime in the mid 1800s. Shock therapy was commonly used to "cure" homosexuals. Well, it sure lowered their sexual appetite.

Gay was a way for homosexuals to claim a word of their own. It happened sometime in the 20th Century, but I have no idea when or where it started. Gay meant happy , and thus it was an instant snub to the common prevailing mis-conception that homosexuals were miserable creatures, that loathed the opposite sex, and hated themselves enough to drink themselves into an early grave. Nevermind that they never took responsibility for creating a societal atmosphere that made homosexuals miserable in the first place.

End of History lesson. Don't trample on each other as you go out to recess!

[private_ryan]

14. thanks

I learned something.

[hlthe2b]

15. Gee, ya really do learn something every day!

[hlthe2b]

3. Well, I only wish it were so...

in my household! Maybe if I could post on DU simultaneously to jogging the treadmill........

On edit, intentionally ignoring the cigarette/"fag" reference, but to each his own!

[trotsky]

6. No kidding.

Unlike when other addicts say "I can quit anytime I want," I really COULD! I love the effects of exercise, but I hate hate HATE actually exercising.

[Isome]

13. That's me... I can quit anytime...

but when I miss a single day, I feel bad about it. The past four months I haven't missed more than two days in a row... then I just have to go jog. Of course, I complain about how I'm getting too old for it during the first five minutes!

Maybe I need an intervention...

[Terwilliger]

9. it is a certain kind of high

I don't know about jogging, but when you get out and run every day (or every other) and play or catch or do something strenuous, you get to a certain level of peace and calm, which I've found to be extremely desirable

Now I can just hope and pray that my leg gets better, and I can get back to it

[Skittles]

5. Is that why I am addicted to aerobics and Rowdyboy?

:7

[VelmaD]

7. I hate when they do studies on mice...

and then try to extrapolate the results to humans. Especially about anything that has a psychological component.

Yes, I exercise a lot and I do get a "high" from it. It improves my mood, makes me sleep better, and makes me feel better about myself. These are all good things.

And if they wanted to compare mice scurrying frantically on the wheel to something humans do - then they should compare it to my job not my exercise regimen. :evilgrin:

[private_ryan]

8. it makes sense though

people are addicted to drugs for the high like effect. Exercise does the same