Over exercise, an addiction

A wrestler or weight lifter is stout and over weight but not obese. His body weight is that of his exercised and strongly built muscles and not of mere flesh and fat. He normally consumes food rich in calories. His daily intake of dairy food may amount to two litres of milk and a good quantity of butter, cheese etc. He effortlessly consumes five to six eggs, large quantities of meat and other protein and carbohydrate-rich food in a day. But if he stops his activities as a weight lifter or wrestler his over-exercised body does not adjust itself to inactivity. Slowly and steadily muscle degeneration takes place and fat gets deposited to make him obese. Added to this, he continues to eat the same amount and the same type of food which he once used to eat to keep his body energetic and fit. This is not accepted by his body.
Similarly some people gain weight after quitting sports. In a way these persons are addicted to over-exercise. The withdrawal

from over-exercise they once engaged themselves in, find an outlet in overeating without exercise.

Can music cause obesity?

Singers who sing for long hours and musicians who play wind¬pipe instruments like flute, clarinet, shehnai, nadaxwaram, etc. are many a time prone to obesity. This is because of the over exertion of their vocal cords. The vocal cord is stretched and exercised continuous])'. The functions of the thyroid glands which are situated on either side of the vocal cord get affected due to this. At first they develop double chin and bloated neck. This further disturbs the secretion of the hormones of this gland which has a direct effect on weight increase and slowly the whole body becomes obese. At the peak of their career, these musicians are exposed to much publicity and social status that some indulge in alcohol to cope with the strain of this kind of life. Drinking when associated with high living has its own role to play in weight gain.