Study on Threshold Dose of Physical Activity in Coronary Heart Disease Prevention. Part I. Relationship Between Leisure Time Physical Activity and Coronary Risk Factors*

Abstract

This study performed on 146 healthy men aged 30-55 years involved in recreational training for several years has demonstrated a relationship between an approximate metabolic cost of leisure time sports activities with an energy expenditure > 5 kcal/min (> 21 kJ) and the total coronary risk score,% body fat, HDL cholesterol concentration, smoking frequency, and aerobic capacity indices. These data as well as the preliminary results of a long-term study demonstrate that regular endurance training with an exercise intensity > 5 kcal/min (> 21 kJ) and a total energy expenditure of 1000-1499 kcal/week (4187-6279 kJ) may be a threshold dose of exercise effective for prevention of coronary heart disease and promotion of health.

Key words

exercise training - coronary heart disease prevention - aerobic capacity - lipids - blood pressure - health promotion