Why is it important for individuals to adjust their exercise intensity based on personal limits?

Adjusting exercise intensity based on personal limits is essential for several reasons, primarily to avoid injury. Everyone has different fitness levels, abilities, and health conditions, and exercising beyond one's limits can lead to strains, sprains, or more severe injuries. By staying within a safe intensity range, individuals can maintain a safe and sustainable fitness routine. This approach allows for gradual improvement and adaptation of the body to higher levels of physical activity over time, reducing the risk of overexertion and ensuring a more effective and enjoyable exercise experience.

The other options do not address the critical aspect of safety and health that is central to exercising appropriately. Following popular fitness trends or conforming to peer pressure may lead individuals to push themselves too hard without considering their unique capabilities, which can be detrimental. Additionally, focusing on accumulating hours of exercise rather than the quality or intensity can result in ineffective workouts and increase the likelihood of injury if the individual is not attuned to their body's signals.