Should I worry about working out too hard?

Push your body too much and you could end up in A&E – or worse. But how much is too much? And which activities are most likely to end in tears?

Endless studies show the physical, mental and longevity-based benefits of working out, while plenty suggest that avoiding activity is bad. But read one headline about someone collapsing after a row, or talk to someone whose friend got stress fractures from running, and it sticks in the mind. So, how risky is training too hard? And is there a way to make sure you never cross that red line into dangerous territory?

The NHS recommends that healthy adults aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, a week – but doesn’t suggest where to stop. This is because the ability to handle excess exertion depends on many varied factors, including how much sleep, food, work and stress you are packing into your days.

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