Cholesterol, High Cholesterol

Aerobic exercise is covered in more detail elsewhere in Preventive Health Advisor.

Aerobic exercise, weight loss and cholesterol control:

A study done by Barnard, et al. compared 51 to 64 year old subjects from an exercise group that did a consistent exercise program for at least 10 years, a diet plus exercise group who did a consistent diet and exercise program for at least 10 years, and a sedentary group with poor diet. Based on this used as a comparison, if someone began to exercise 5 days per week for one hour in their 50s for 10 years without a change in diet, they should expect to decrease their body mass index about 11.5 kg/m^2, reduce total cholesterol by about 11 points, and reduce their triglycerides by about 105 mg/dl. There was no large benefit in LDL and HDL cholesterol seen in the group which consumed a poor diet. If someone began to exercise 4-6 days per week for one hour in their 50s for 10 years with eating a low fat, high fiber and complex carbohydrates diet along with exercise they would attain the following average benefit. A decrease in their body mass index about 16.5 kg/m^2, reduce total cholesterol by about 33 points, reduce LDL cholesterol by about 20 points, and reduce their triglycerides by about 109 mg/dl. There was no large benefit in HDL cholesterol seen in this study.(15)