Diet Changes Plus Exercise Found Best for Men’s Hearts : Science File / An exploration of issues and trends affecting science, medicine and the environment

Unfit middle-aged men seeking to cut their risk of heart disease should concentrate on diet, not just exercise, according to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. In the study of 111 sedentary and obese men ages 46 to 80, 44 were told to lose 10% of their body weight, and 49 were told to increase maximum aerobic capacity by 10% while maintaining body weight. The remaining 18 were a control group.

Men in both treatment groups reduced their blood levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the so-called bad cholesterol, plasma triglycerides and insulin, which are indicators of coronary artery disease. But the weight loss group gained even more health benefits, including significant increases in high-density “good” cholesterol, larger decreases in fasting glucose and insulin levels, and significantly lower blood pressure.