Introduction: There is little evidence on the association between resistance exercise and inciden... more Introduction: There is little evidence on the association between resistance exercise and incident metabolic syndrome. Hypothesis: We examined the hypothesis that resistance exercise reduces the risk of developing metabolic syndrome in men. Methods: Participants were 6,098 men aged 18 to 83 years (mean age, 46) who received an extensive preventive medical examination during 1987–2006, and were free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and metabolic syndrome at baseline. Resistance exercise was assessed by self-reported muscle strengthening activities using either free weights or weight training machines. We used the frequency of resistance exercise (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and ≥5 days/week) as our main exposure categories. Metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of ≥3 of the following criteria: waist circumference >102 cm, triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol <40 mg/dL, systolic/diastolic blood pressure ≥130/85 mm Hg or physician-diagnosed hypertension, a...
Introduction: Although cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, and poor diet each have b... more Introduction: Although cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, and poor diet each have been linked to the risk of premature death, little is known about their relative individual and combined impact, adapted from the American Heart Association (AHA)’s new cardiovascular health construct, on mortality outcomes. We hypothesized that the individual and the combined health behaviors were inversely associated with all-cause mortality. The purpose of the study is to estimate the mortality effects of the 4 AHA defined cardiovascular health behaviors by examining the associated population attributable fractions (PAFs) of individual and combination factors. Methods: The study included 11240 (24% women) participants from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study (ACLS). Slightly modified AHA cardiovascular health behaviors (smoking, BMI, cardiorespiratory fitness and diet) were collected between 1987 and 1999 as part of the clinical examination. We used cardiorespiratory fitness as an o...
This study examined the relationship between emotional outlook on life and change in physical act... more This study examined the relationship between emotional outlook on life and change in physical activity among inactive adults in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study. A total of 2,132 sedentary adults completed a baseline medical examination and returned for a follow-up examination at least 6 months later. Participants self-reported physical activity level and emotional outlook on life. Emotional outlook on life was significantly and positively related to physical activity participation at the follow-up visit in men but not women. Men who were usually very happy and optimistic at baseline had significantly greater increases in physical activity compared to men who were not happy. Men with a more positive outlook on life (e.g., happier) may be more likely to increase physical activity levels. Physical activity interventions targeting men may be more successful if they first increase happiness.
Introduction: There is little evidence on the association between resistance exercise and inciden... more Introduction: There is little evidence on the association between resistance exercise and incident metabolic syndrome. Hypothesis: We examined the hypothesis that resistance exercise reduces the risk of developing metabolic syndrome in men. Methods: Participants were 6,098 men aged 18 to 83 years (mean age, 46) who received an extensive preventive medical examination during 1987–2006, and were free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and metabolic syndrome at baseline. Resistance exercise was assessed by self-reported muscle strengthening activities using either free weights or weight training machines. We used the frequency of resistance exercise (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and ≥5 days/week) as our main exposure categories. Metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of ≥3 of the following criteria: waist circumference >102 cm, triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol <40 mg/dL, systolic/diastolic blood pressure ≥130/85 mm Hg or physician-diagnosed hypertension, a...
Introduction: Although cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, and poor diet each have b... more Introduction: Although cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, and poor diet each have been linked to the risk of premature death, little is known about their relative individual and combined impact, adapted from the American Heart Association (AHA)’s new cardiovascular health construct, on mortality outcomes. We hypothesized that the individual and the combined health behaviors were inversely associated with all-cause mortality. The purpose of the study is to estimate the mortality effects of the 4 AHA defined cardiovascular health behaviors by examining the associated population attributable fractions (PAFs) of individual and combination factors. Methods: The study included 11240 (24% women) participants from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study (ACLS). Slightly modified AHA cardiovascular health behaviors (smoking, BMI, cardiorespiratory fitness and diet) were collected between 1987 and 1999 as part of the clinical examination. We used cardiorespiratory fitness as an o...
This study examined the relationship between emotional outlook on life and change in physical act... more This study examined the relationship between emotional outlook on life and change in physical activity among inactive adults in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study. A total of 2,132 sedentary adults completed a baseline medical examination and returned for a follow-up examination at least 6 months later. Participants self-reported physical activity level and emotional outlook on life. Emotional outlook on life was significantly and positively related to physical activity participation at the follow-up visit in men but not women. Men who were usually very happy and optimistic at baseline had significantly greater increases in physical activity compared to men who were not happy. Men with a more positive outlook on life (e.g., happier) may be more likely to increase physical activity levels. Physical activity interventions targeting men may be more successful if they first increase happiness.
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