On the other side of Adele’s intense workout routine, there may be some long-term health risks.
And since the 33-year-old bluesy bombshell revealed to Vogue that she’s become “addicted” to exercising “two to three times a day,” medical experts warn that subscribing to an extreme fitness regimen could have adverse effects on a body’s muscles, joints and immune system.
“Maintaining a moderate exercise routine is an essential component of leading a healthy lifestyle,” WebMD chief medical officer John Whyte told The Post. “But working out two to three times a day is way too much.”
Excessive exercise often results in “a plethora of overuse injuries,” according to Whyte.
“When we work out, we’re putting stress on our muscles, bones and organs,” he said. “And if we don’t give those parts of our body a chance to heal after use, their function can begin to deteriorate.”
He notes serial exercising can decrease the body’s immune function, as well.
“When you’re overdoing it at the gym, it stresses your body and muscles,” Whyte explained.
“Your body then produces cortisol in response to that chronic stress,” he added. “And elevated levels of cortisol can suppress the immune system’s ability to ward off disease.”
But in the case of the “Hello” harmonizer, her newfound affinity for physical fitness has contributed to her 100-pound weight loss over the past two years, and she credits her emotional wellness to her obsession with breaking a sweat.
“[The gym] became my time,” Adele told Vogue, adding that she did not follow any specific diets despite previous reports she was on the sirtfood diet.
Instead, she follows a rigorous routine of cardio and strength-training workouts under the tutelage of performance specialist and a Heart & Hustle gym co-owner, New Yorker Gregg Miele.
And at the singer’s urging, Miele upped her workouts to multiple times a day — despite her longstanding back issues from several slipped discs.
“I realized that when I was working out, I didn’t have any anxiety,” said the Grammy Award winner and divorced mom to 8-year-old Angelo.
“It was never about losing weight,” she added. “I thought, ‘If I can make my body physically strong, and I can feel that and see that, then maybe one day I can make my emotions and my mind physically strong.’”
During her chat with Vogue, Adele admitted to feeling mentally weighed down by the trauma of her divorce from charity CEO Simon Konecki. The pair ended their marriage in September 2019.
But Adele confessed that she “wasn’t happy” and had been “going through the motions” for years before she filed papers for the court to officially terminate their union.
She also noted the motivators for her repetitive, albeit therapeutic, workouts stem from pressures of co-parenting Angelo with Konecki — who lives in LA, across the street from her and their son in a home she purchased for him following their split — and the recent death of her estranged father Mark Evans, who died from cancer in May.
The mental and emotional benefits of psychical activity notwithstanding, NYU Langone sports surgeon Cordelia Carter says, “Too much of a good thing can sometimes be bad.”
“Exercise is medicine,” said Carter. “When we’re working out, our body releases endorphins, or the ‘happy hormones,’ and we experience a great boost in energy and positivity.”
However, an excess of aerobics can cause mental and emotional burnout, which can diminish the physiological rewards over time.
“In addition to the risk of sustaining overuse injuries and stress fractures, too much exercise over time will begin to feel like a job rather than a pleasure, and that can reduce the joy we get from it.”
Instead of incessantly pumping iron or crushing your cardio routine multiple times a day, Carter suggests adopting a moderate workout regimen with exercise sessions a few times a week, eating clean and drinking water.
“Your overall health is of utmost importance. It’s not just about weight loss or looking good,” she said. “And simultaneously taking care of your mind and body in a healthy way will ensure lasting benefits.”