Atherosclerosis Risk Factors and Modification

Question 0

Must exercise increase cardiorespiratory fitness to produce health benefits?

Answer 0

Nope. Just doing it is good for you.

Question 1

If you had to recommend one diet……

Answer 1

it would be the “Mediterranean Diet”… though some low-carb diets can be beneficial. Low-fat diets generally don’t work well.

Question 2

Take home points about what type of exercise is best to reduce CVD risk?

Answer 2

More is better (probably up to extremes that few people reach), but most of the benefit is derived when going from unfit to moderately fit.
Intensity… at “conversational” pace is good.
30 minutes of exercise most, if all days of the week, is great.

Question 3

5 risk factors improved with exercise?

Answer 3

Reduction in adiposity.
Reduction in BP.
Reduction in TGs.
Increase in HDL.
Increased insulin sensitivity.

Question 4

If you have to pick just one, is it better to be good cardiovascular shape, or to be not-obese?

Answer 4

It’s actually better to be in good shape than to be not-overweight.