Which principle indicates that the body adapts to stress and overload over time?

The principle that states the body adapts to stress and overload over time is known as Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands (SAID). This principle posits that when an individual is subjected to specific physical stressors, whether through exercise or other forms of training, the body will make adaptations to improve its ability to handle those specific demands in the future.

For instance, if an athlete consistently performs strength training that targets particular muscles, those muscles will adapt by becoming stronger and more endurance-capable. Over time, this leads to improved performance in related activities. The concept emphasizes that the type of adaptation that occurs is directly linked to the nature of the stress applied; therefore, different training modalities will yield specific adaptations related to those activities.

The other options pertain to different aspects of training but do not focus specifically on the adaptive process. Safety in exercise refers to avoiding injuries during training, while consistency in training pertains to the regularity of workouts to achieve fitness goals. Intensity of workouts relates to how hard one is training, which is important for progression but is not an adaptive principle itself. Thus, while all play a role in effective training regimes, none encapsulate the adaptation concept as precisely as the SAID principle.