Runner’s high as addictive as drugs: study

The feeling of euphoria commonly known as a ‘runner’s high’ is as addictive as opiates, according to a new study by scientists at Tufts University in Massachusetts.

The Tufts’ scientists set out to find out runners could become addicted to the feel-good sensations caused by endorphins.

Researchers conducted a study using rats. They put the rodents into two groups, one with access to an exercise wheel, and another without access to the wheel.

Rats with access to the wheel naturally increased the amount they ran over a week.

On day nine, researchers gave one group access to food for only one hour per day, while the others continued to have food all the time. The food-restricted group started exercising even more and losing weight – demonstrating signs of a dangerous eating disorder, anorexia athletica.

Finally, all of the rats were given a drug called Naxolone, a chemical compound used to help drug abusers recover from addiction. It immediately causes withdrawal symptoms in addicts.

Researchers found that the ‘running rats’ experienced far more withdrawal symptoms than the non-runners.

The scientists determined that the release of chemicals during extreme exercise is similar to the sensations morphine and heroin users feel.

Using these conclusions, the researchers have suggested that if a runner’s high is similar to a drug-induced high, exercise could used as a replacement ‘drug.’

For more on this study visit the American Psychological Association’s website at http://www.apa.org/releases/exercise-addict.html