Heart Healthy Living

Fitness Rules in Surprising New Study

We all know that fitness is fabulous. It makes you look and feel better. Now we know that it also helps you to live longer. Fitness trumped every other factor tested in a new AHA comparison of fitness, weight loss and reduced body index (BMI) and length of life. So what about weight loss and reduced BMI? What affect do they have? This answer will surprise you. Here’s more from Cleveland Clinic cardiologist David Frid, MD.

Tags: exercise, heart health, prevention, risk factors
Cleveland Clinic now offers same-day appointments. Get the care you need, right away at 888.223.CARE.

We welcome your comments. However, we cannot provide a medical opinion without an in-person consultation. To learn about Cleveland Clinic services available to you, please fill out our WebMail form.
  • Kathy

    What’s good for your heart is apparently bad for other life-threatening risks.

    According to Dr. Willette (and based on the Nurses’ Health Study or another of his mammoth epidemiological beasts), the slimmest and most athletic women have a higher risk of developing aggressive breast cancer than their chubbier peers.

    And, since breast cancer is the number 1 killer of women under 40, and that heart attacks don’t even register, it follows that this, as with virtually all public health advice, is hopelessly simplistic.

    Sincerely,
    An uber-athletic pre-meno breast cancer survivor, whose heart is now spewing oxygen radicals thanks to chemo-induced damage (so much for a life-long love affair with endurance sports!)

  • ebeal

    I don’t like having to watch web-based videos. They take too much time…when I could read what the person had to say in…seconds, compared to having to sit through a lengthy video (that’s often bad quality, too).

    If you have to do the videos, then please also do a short write up (think of it as an abstract of what the video person says) for people who actually do read.

    This isn’t a criticism, though I guess it may sound like one…it’s a suggestion about how to engage those of us who will never click on the ‘view’ button.

    Be Well…E. B. Cle, OH

    • CC Heart

      Dear ebeal, thanks for the feedback! Appreciate your taking the time to write and we will try to do this in the future! betsyRN

  • http://www.powerandmuscle.com Reuben Richards

    I guess with a BMI of over 30 it is very difficult to get motivated to exercise and increase fitness levels, but reducing your BMI to the overwieght range through diet and exercise will help so the impact on your life in terms of fitness is measurable. The message – increase your fitness, increase your life expectancy

  • david rosenberg

    The fact that you did not include obese is crazy, and reflects negatively on your enterprise. Shame on you!

  • tariq

    i appreciate your efforts for educating peoples,who
    are having or interested in heart related deseases.thanks a lot once again.You are serving the
    humanity