Google+

by

healthy_blogging

Wouldn't it be great to extend your lifespan without having to go on a diet? Research published in a recent issue of Circulation says that you can.

An international team of scientists followed 14345 men for 11.4 years in a study which looked at relationships between changes in physical fitness, Body Mass Index (BMI) and cardiovascular health.

In order to accomplish this objective they looked at the participants' fitness by measuring metabolic equivalents (METs) from maximal treadmill tests. The METs gave researchers useful data about the men's health because the measurement indicated how much energy they expended during treadmill exercise. 

During the 11.4 years of follow up, men who participated in aerobics improved their cardiovascular health and extended their lifespan. Many of these men were already physically fit at the beginning of the study or began an exercise regimen during the course of the trial. Moreover, their cardiovascular health improved even if they didn't lose weight.

But men who failed to exercise were less healthy and more likely to die. In fact, 914 of the men died of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease claimed the lives of 300 of the study participants.

Looking at the data, the research team concluded that: "Maintaining or improving fitness is associated with a lower risk of all-cause or CVD mortality in men. Preventing age-associated fitness loss is important for longevity regardless of age."

In other words: exercise is good for your health.

Sign up for our newsletter to get important health and wellness news. I'm living fit, healthy and happy. Are you?

Article Source 

Lee, D., Sui, X., Artero, E., Lee, I., Church, T., McAuley, P., Stanford, F., Kohl, H., & Blair, S. (2011). Long-Term Effects of Changes in Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Body Mass Index on All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in Men: The Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study Circulation, 124 (23), 2483-2490 DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.038422

"How To Get Healthy And Live Longer Without Losing Weight" copyright 2011 Living Fit, Healthy and Happy.

**