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Running and Metabolic Diseases

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Abstract

One of the main benefits of exercise is the impact on metabolic regulation. The substances produced during metabolism are called metabolites. These are the intermediaries of the complex metabolic mechanism of the body and can characterize metabolic health and its variation in response to exercise.

The human body was designed for movement. Human locomotion is the most natural way to exercise. Our whole body is adapted for walking and running. Therefore, it is not surprising that running is strongly associated with several health benefits, both physically and mentally. In some pathologies running works as a “medication” without severe contraindications.

It is well established that physical inactivity influences the development of chronic metabolic diseases. In turn, regular exercise prevents or delays the progression of a significant number of conditions, including metabolic dysfunctions. In addition, many metabolic disorders are known—cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity and dyslipidaemia. Thus, the lack of physical activity is strongly linked to the development of many chronic and metabolic disorders.

Running and the resulting physiological adaptations may have a beneficial effect on disease prevention and on the individual’s health status. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the impact of running on health, particularly in the prevention and treatment of some metabolic diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

    José Gomes Pereira

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  1. José Gomes Pereira
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Correspondence to José Gomes Pereira .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Sports Traumatology, Koelliker Hospital, Torino, Italy

    Gian Luigi Canata

  2. Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic, Montijo, Portugal

    Henrique Jones

  3. Sport Docs Franken, Nürnberg, Germany

    Werner Krutsch

  4. Centre d’Investigations en Médecine du Sport, Hôpital Hôtel Dieu – APHP, Paris, France

    Patricia Thoreux

  5. Policlinico Città di Udine, Udine, Italy

    Alberto Vascellari

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Pereira, J.G. (2022). Running and Metabolic Diseases. In: Canata, G.L., Jones, H., Krutsch, W., Thoreux, P., Vascellari, A. (eds) The Running Athlete. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-65064-6_7

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