What is the essence of exercise?

I would have no hesitation in answering this if I was asked that question a few years ago. Because for a biologist like me, the primary reason and goal for such a routine is to improve or maintain health. However, after seeing kids, nowadays, straining themselves so much in exercise just to attain the abdominal muscles that they often see in movies, hesitation would be the kindest word that I could think of.

Sad, but true. Stomach weight loss is secondary to abdominal showing. Health is becoming a fortunate coincidence or side effect to getting buffed abs. How sick is that? I’m dreading the world that mateo will be growing up in. I just hope we build steady enough morals for him to make him strong enough to resist such vanity and pressure from friends and people around him. With media leading the charge to promote aesthetics standards, the new generation is in for a real morality struggle.

Please grow up to be wise, my son. People will love you for your goodness, your skills, your personality, with or without abs. We will always love you no matter what.