Poor fitness linked to heart disease

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Those with poor fitness are more likely to have known heart risk factors.
Previous research has suggested a significant link between fitness and heart disease. A study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HNANES) now underlines this association. Data for over 3,000 adolescents and more than 2,000 adults shows that a third of the former and 14 per cent of the latter had poor cardiovascular fitness.

Those with poor fitness also had higher body mass index and waist circumference measurement. Their cholesterol profiles were also poorer and their blood pressure higher. All of this predisposes the unfit to heart disease. It's a worrying trend and more effort needs to be made - literally - to get people up and moving so they keep their hearts healthy.

Source
Journal of the American Medical Association 21st December 2005 Volume 294 pages 2981-2988

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