Physical fitness reduces death risk (more than weight loss). What’s your New Year’s resolution? According to a recent Gallup poll, nearly 40% of Americans are currently trying to lose weight through exercise and dieting. These efforts to lose weight are commendable, as exercise helps people lead longer, fuller lives. In fact, new research published in Circulation shows that exercise significantly improves health and decreases death risk, even if weight loss is not achieved. This large study provides more evidence that exercise and weight loss do not always come hand-in-hand, and that more attention should be paid to the cardiovascular fitness that results from exercise.Researchers at the University of South Carolina School of Public Health studied a group of 14,345 middle aged men (average age at the beginning of the study was 44 years). The men were tested yearly for changes in physical fitness via a maximal treadmill test, were given surveys on their exercise habits and had regular physicals. After 11 years of follow-up, researchers looked at death statistics for the group and determined the risk of dying among men who lost, maintained or gained fitness (measured in METs). They found that the risk of death was significantly lower for those who were physically active, and that was regardless of whether there was a change in BMI or not.The morale of the research: if you have resolved to exercise more this year, your efforts will lead to decreased risk of health problems and increased fitness levels. If, however, you do not lose weight, do not despair and above all, do not stop being active! This study shows that even without weight loss, exercising is still one of the best things you can do for your health in 2012.Lee, et al. (2011). Long-term effects of changes in cardiorespiratory fitness and Body Mass Index on all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in men. Circulation, 124, 2483 – 2490.
