It’s widely known that running is beneficial for both our physical and mental health. But does it also have a positive effect on our appearance?
To explore the connection between exercise and physical attractiveness, we consulted with experts and analyzed a dozen studies.
We found out that running can enhance our attractiveness in multiple ways, such as improving our overall physical condition, increasing self-esteem, and even enhancing our sex lives.
If you are curious to learn more about these and other benefits, check out our article.
1. Running Improves Skin Tone and Complexion
The face is the part of the body that receives the most attention. Running sessions can compete with beauty salon services and make you hear compliments more often. There are four reasons for this.
Running provides a vibration massage
Some believe that the shaking caused by running can lead to sagging skin. But is this true?
During running, vibrations are created throughout the body, but they actually tone the facial muscles and lift the soft tissues.
In addition, the increased oxygen saturation in cells and improved blood circulation in vessels and capillaries from running ultimately has a positive effect on the complexion.
Running outdoors helps you get a tan
Tanned skin is often associated with a healthy, toned, and well-cared appearance. It can also help conceal imperfections like dark circles under the eyes. Gradual exposure to sunlight while running outdoors can help you develop a beautiful tan.
However, running in sunny weather also means dealing with its reverse side which is scorching rays. You need to take care of your skin and protect it from the harmful UV radiation that comes with tanning.
Before you go for a run, make sure to apply sunscreen that is appropriate for your skin type. Additionally, to minimize your exposure to the sun, remember to wear a hat and sunglasses, maintain a proper electrolyte balance, and hydrate well.
Oxytocin gives your skin a younger appearance
Regular aerobic exercise stimulates the production of oxytocin.
According to recent studies, people with high levels of oxytocin in their blood tend to have younger-looking skin, even if they have been exposed to strong sunlight throughout their life.
Regular running maintains oxytocin levels high, which is why experienced runners often look pretty good.
Running clears up acne
Exercise normalizes cortisol, the stress hormone that affects sebum production, so moderate running can be a way to combat acne. However, excessive exercise may have the opposite effect.
To avoid getting runner’s acne—breakouts caused by clogged pores and friction from clothing—it is important to take a shower promptly after running and wash away sweat, sebum, and bacteria.
2. Running Helps You Stay Young
Running can really be a “fountain of youth.” An interesting experiment on mice demonstrated this.
Some of the test subjects ran on a wheel for 45 minutes three times a week, while others didn’t exercise at all. After a few months, the sedentary mice visibly aged, while the active mice seemed to have turned back time: they had shiny, non-graying fur, developed muscles, healthy hearts, and brains.
Later, the same scientists conducted tests on humans that confirmed their assumptions and findings. Skin samples taken from elderly people who started exercising looked significantly younger.
Researchers believe that increased interleukin-15, a cytokine responsible for skin metabolism, contributed to this.
During physical activity, many other reactions occur that work together. For example, running stimulates the production of collagen, a protein responsible for skin elasticity and the absence of wrinkles. And there are other benefits as well.
Regular running also affects the level of somatotropin. It is called the hormone of growth or the hormone of youth for a reason—it plays a direct role in the formation of new cells.
3. Running Makes the Body More Toned and the Bones Stronger
This is possible thanks to the previously mentioned hormone somatotropin.
According to Pavel Nikitin, a researcher at the Biomedical Department of the University of Houston, the hormone primarily leads to an increase in muscle mass, which can help make your body look more toned and defined.
In addition to this, somatotropin can also affect the growth and strength of your nails.
Other positive effects of this hormone on attractiveness are more indirect. For example, it significantly improves the mineralization and strength of bone tissue, which can reduce the risk of fractures.
4. Running Reduces Excess Weight
It is not a secret that many people come to this sport to lose weight. However, if you don’t watch your diet, regular training won’t bring the desired results.
A study has shown that beginners are more effective in reducing their fat mass if they combine running more than 5 km per week with dietary changes.
By expending more calories through regular exercise, you can lose excess weight and achieve a slimmer, more attractive appearance.
On the other hand, for people with an asthenic body type, running can have a different effect. It can cause further weight loss, making them appear more emaciated than attractive.
Although some people may prefer this look, it can lead to various health problems caused by a significant weight deficit. To achieve a healthy balance, it is recommended to combine running with strength training sessions and a healthy diet.
When you see runners with a well-defined physique, keep in mind that their training process extends beyond just running. In addition to cardio, they likely incorporate stretching, strength training, and other exercises to achieve their fitness goals.
So what you see while they are running is only a part of the full picture.
5. Running Reduces the Risk of Diseases
We began with the idea that an attractive person is a healthy person. Running helps fight numerous health issues and maintains the function of nearly every organ and system in our body.
Here are some examples:
- Cardiovascular system
This system is the primary beneficiary of the health-improving effects of running. The walls of blood vessels and the heart muscle become stronger, while blood pressure and levels of bad cholesterol decrease.
Consequently, the risk of fatal diseases is significantly reduced.
- Respiratory system
Regular running can help alleviate asthma symptoms by improving lung ventilation and increasing vital capacity. This allows the body to receive more oxygen.
- Digestive system
Even a short warm-up run stimulates intestinal function normalizing bowel movements and relieving constipation.
- Immune system
Moderate physical activity reduces susceptibility to infectious diseases.
6. Running Strengthens Self-Esteem
Despite objectively having a great figure and being physically attractive, some people still feel unhappy with their appearance. Fortunately, running can help change that negative self-image and boost confidence levels, comparable to the effect of psychotherapy.
This is the conclusion reached by scientists at Mostar University. According to them, running is an excellent therapeutic tool for a variety of negative psychological states, such as depression, anxiety, mood swings, low self-esteem, etc.
When you challenge yourself to learn something difficult, it literally changes your brain.
It becomes accustomed to the idea that you are capable of achieving anything you decide to. This realization can also positively impact your social life. When you are confident in yourself, it naturally attracts others to you.
7. Running Improves Your Sex Life
Anthropologists from the University of Cambridge discovered that long-distance running, despite being an individual sport, doesn’t necessarily lead to loneliness.
According to their study, endurance-trained men tend to have a strong sexual drive and a higher sperm count, 73% higher than those leading a sedentary lifestyle.
This suggests that historically, women tended to choose such partners, as an endurance-trained man was a good hunter and a guarantee of the survival of the species.
Thus, women may consider the ability to run long distances as a selection criterion. If a man demonstrates this quality, then he has a future.
Similarly, a number of psychological surveys have shown that men perceive female runners as carriers of better genes and, accordingly, good candidates for the birth of healthy children.
Running increases blood flow to the pelvic organs and eliminates stagnation, which has a positive effect on fertility.
However, it is important to remember that moderation is key in everything. Exhaustive training can lead to the opposite result, such as a decrease in testosterone levels, which negatively affects not only reproductive function but also overall health.
8. Running Helps You Sleep Better
For most of us, stress is a part of daily life. Emotional and physical tension triggers the production of cortisol, the stress hormone. Cortisol has an overstimulating effect on the nervous system, making it difficult to fall asleep.
However, as we already know, running can lower the level of this hormone. Additionally, the exercise itself, especially when done in the evening, can cause fatigue, leading to deep and restful sleep.
Numerous scientific studies have supported the relationship between running and better sleep. For instance, one study showed that daily morning runs for three weeks improve sleep and psychological well-being in adolescents.
Another study says that moderate-intensity exercise done 90 minutes before bedtime does not disrupt sleep.
Running is an excellent way to combat insomnia. People who get a good night’s sleep are often more optimistic about life, which is an attractive quality.
In addition, quality sleep makes us look and feel better, leading to increased productivity and a more positive outlook on life.
9. Running Boosts Mood
Runner’s high isn’t just a catchy phrase; it is the result of a complex chain of chemical reactions and transformations that occur in the brain. Running triggers the release of endorphins, which activate opioid receptors in two brain structures:
- The prefrontal cortex, responsible for subjective perception of the world and cognitive functions.
- The limbic system, responsible for feelings, emotions, and automatic reactions.
The effect of these hormones on these areas explains the good mood running creates. This, in turn, affects how we interact with the world around us. Happy and content people are usually more attractive to others.
It seems like runners are indeed attractive. And it’s not just because of their toned bodies and glowing faces. They are at peace with themselves and satisfied with their lives. Isn’t that what matters most?
