Experts warn against generic social media workout programs

Experts are warning against the use of generic, social media-driven workout programs that promise rapid results, noting that exercise should be tailored to an individual's specific biological needs.

Dr. Emrah Özdemir from Istanbul Rumeli University emphasizes that exercise acts like medicine, where dosage, duration, and intensity must be adjusted based on age, gender, and lifestyle. For children and adolescents, the focus should be on coordination and movement quality using body weight to avoid damaging growth plates. In young adulthood, while muscle and hormonal capacity are at their peak, unplanned excessive loading can lead to injury or overtraining syndrome.

As individuals enter their 30s, resistance training becomes vital to combat declining muscle mass and metabolic slowing, though high-intensity workouts may pose risks to those without a prior fitness history. Additionally, gender-specific physiological differences, such as hormonal variations and connective tissue elasticity, must be considered to prevent injuries like ACL tears in women or uncontrolled heavy loading in men.