Effect of physical activity on cardiovascular health

Cardiovascular disease

• Physical activity reduces risk for cardiovascular disease.

• Physical activity reduces risk for cardiovascular disease.

• Physical activity is associated with prevention of cardiovascular disease.

• There is evidence that physical activity is associated with improvement of cardiovascular function, and improvement of arterial and venous circulation.
• Physical activity contributes to the prevention of arteriosclerosis.

• In adults and older person, physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

• There is strong evidence that physical activity results in a 20% to 35% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease and stroke.

• Regular physical activity is a mainstay of cardiovascular disease prevention; participation decreases all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

• 'Strong evidence demonstrates a significant relationship between greater amounts of physical activity and decreased incidence of cardiovascular disease'. There is insufficient evidence to determine whether this relationship varies by age, sex, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or weight status.
• 'Strong evidence demonstrates that a strong inverse dose-response relation exists between amount of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and cardiovascular disease mortality'. Strong evidence demonstrates that this relationship does not vary by age, sex, race, or weight status.

• 'energy expenditure of approximately 1000 kcal/week of moderate-intensity physical activity (or about 150 min/week) is associated with lower rates of CVD and premature mortality'

Coronary heart disease

• 'strong evidence demonstrates that compared to less active adult men and women, individuals who are more active have lower rates of […] coronary heart disease'

• Physical activity is particularly important in the prevention of coronary heart disease

• 'Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of [...] coronary heart disease'
• There is strong evidence that physical activity results in a 20% to 53% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease and stroke.

• Strong evidence that physical activity is associated with lower risk for coronary heart disease in adults and older adults.

Stroke

• There is strong evidence that physical activity results in a 20% to 35% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease and stroke

• Strong evidence demonstrates a significant relationship between greater amounts of physical activity and decreased incidence of stroke

High blood pressure

• 'there is sufficient evidence that those who live a physically active life can gain a number of health benefits including prevention and/or delay of the development of arterial hypertension, and improved control of arterial blood pressure in individuals who suffer high blood pressure'.

• 'strong evidence demonstrates that compared to less active adult men and women, individuals who are more active have lower rates of […] high blood pressure'.

• Physical activity is particularly important in the prevention of elevated blood pressure

• Physical activity contributes to blood pressure normalisation

• High strength evidence indicates that among adult men and women at all blood pressure levels, including individuals with hypertension aerobic physical activity decreases systolic and diastolic blood pressure, on average by 2 to 5 mm Hg and 1 to 4 mm Hg, respectively.

• 'Strong evidence demonstrates that, among adults with hypertension, physical activity reduces the disease progression indicator of blood pressure'
• 'Moderate evidence indicates the relationship between physical activity and the disease progression indicator of blood pressure does not vary by type of physical activity, [...] among adults with hypertension'

• 'Exercise and physical activity lower blood pressure'

Lipid profile

• 'Physical activity […] improves the level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol'

• There is moderate evidence that among adults, aerobic physical activity alone, as compared to control interventions, reduces LDL- and not HDL-cholesterol.
• Evidence of moderate strength show that among adults, aerobic physical activity alone, as compared to control intervention has no consistent effect on triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol.

• 'Regular physical activity has consistently been shown to be effective in reducing levels of triglyceride-rich VLDL'

Effect of physical activity on cardiorespiratory health

• Sufficient evidence that those who live a physically active life have good cardio-pulmonary function

• 'Physical activity is positively related to cardiorespiratory and metabolic health in children'

• 'Clear inverse relationship between physical activity and cardiorespiratory risk'.

• 'Clear inverse relationship between physical activity and cardiorespiratory risk'.

Effect of physical activity on type 2 diabetes

• Sufficient evidence that those who live a physically active life can gain a number of health benefits including maintained metabolic functions and low incidence of type 2 diabetes.

• 'strong evidence demonstrates that, compared to less active adult men and women, individuals who are more active have lower rates of […] diabetes'

• In adults and older persons, physical activity reduces the risk of diabetes.

• Physical activity is particularly important in the prevention of adult diabetes

• There is stron evidence that there is a 'clear inverse relationship between physical activity and risk of type 2 diabetes'
• Stron evidence that 'there is a 30% to 40% lower risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes in at least moderately active people compared with those who are sedentary'.

• Increase levels of physical activity are associated with lower incidence of type 2 diabetes
• There is strong evidence to support that there is a significant relationship between greater time spent in sedentary behaviour and higher risk of type 2 diabetes, although the data to support a direct relationship is limited.

Effect of physical activity on cancer

• There is sufficient evidence that those who live a physically active life can gain a number of health benefits including a lowered risk of certain cancers, such as breast, prostate and colon.

• 'strong evidence demonstrates that compared to less active adult men and women, individuals who are more active have lower rates of […] colon cancer, breast cancer'

• There is strong evidence that being physically active decreases the risk of cancers of the colon, breast (post menopause) and endometrium.
• There is strong evidence that undertaking physical activity of vigorous intensity decreases the risk of pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer.

• Physical activity is particularly important in the prevention of colon cancer.

• Physical activity is associated with a lower risk of breast and colorectal cancer.

• There is strong evidence of 'an inverse association between physical activity and risk of breast and colon cancer'.
• 'There is an approximately 30% lower risk of colon cancer and approximately 20% lower risk of breast cancer for adults participating in daily physical activity'

• 'Strong evidence demonstrates that greater amounts of physical activity are associated with reduced risk of developing bladder cancer'
• There is strong evidence to support that greater amounts of physical activity are associated with a lower risk of breast cancer and that a dose-response relationship exists between greater amounts of physical activity and lower breast cancer risk.
• 'Strong evidence demonstrates that greater amounts of recreational, occupational, or total physical activity are associated with a lower risk of developing colon cancer'
• Strong evidence supports that greater amounts of physical activity are associated with lower risk of endometrial cancer.

Effect of physical activity on body weight and energy intake

• Sufficient evidence that those who live a physically active life can gain a number of health benefits, including increased fat utilisation which can help to control weight, lowering the risk of obesity.

• 'There is a favourable and consistent effect of aerobic physical activity on achieving weight maintenance.'
• 'Strong evidence also supports the conclusion that, compared to less active people, physically active adults and older adults […], have a healthier body mass and composition'

• 'Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of […] obesity'.
• 'There is a favourable and consistent effect of aerobic physical activity on achieving weight maintenance'.

• Strong evidence to support the relation between regular PA and favourable body composition in children and adolescents
• Strong evidence that regular PA is associated with weight loss, particularly when combined with reduced calorie intake
• Moderate to strong evidence for an association between regular PA and reduced abdominal obesity.
• Moderate evidence that regular PA is associated with weight maintenance after weight loss

• 'Strong evidence demonstrates that greater volumes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity are associated with preventing or minimizing excessive weight gain in adults, maintaining weight within a healthy range, and preventing obesity'.

Effect of physical activity on mental health/ cognitive performance

• Sufficient evidence that those who live a physically active life can gain
  • 'Maintained cognitive functions and lowered risk of depression and dementia.
  • 'Lower stress levels and associated improved sleep quality'
  • Improved self-image and self-esteem and increase enthusiasm and optimism'

• Regular PA reduces the risk of depression

• 'Physical activity reduces the risk of depressive symptoms'.
• 'Physical activity is associated with lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia'.

• Physical activity improves mental health.

• Strong evidence that there is an approximately 20% to 30% lower risk for depression and dementia, for adults participating in daily physical activity.

• strong evidence that regular PA reduces the risk of depression
• some evidence that PA prevents or reduces anxiety disorders
• PA is associated, albeit without dose-response effect, with less cognitive decline and dementia
• substantial evidence that PA improves self-perceptions and to a lesser extent self-esteem, improves mood and decreases feelings of fatigue
• moderate evidence that PA improves sleep quality

• 'Strong evidence demonstrates that greater volumes of physical activity reduce the risk of dementia and improve other aspects of cognitive function'

• participating in physical activity is positively associated with improved cognitive skills

Effect of physical activity on musculoskeletal muscle

• Sufficient evidence to show that those who live a physically active life have:
  • 'Improved mineralization of bones in young ages, contributing to the prevention of osteoporosis and fractures in older ages.'
  • 'Maintenance and improvement in muscular strength and endurance…'
  • 'Maintained motor functions including strength and balance'

• 'Strong evidence also supports the conclusion that, compared to less active people, physically active adults and older adults […] have […] a biomarker profile that is more favourable […] for enhancing bone health'.

• 'Physical activity reduces the risk of fractures'.
• 'Strength training improves walking speed and muscle strength'.

• Regular physical activity helps to prevent and manage musculoskeletal conditions. There is an inverse association of physical activity with relative risk of hip fracture (moderate evidence) and vertebral fracture (weak evidence)
• There is strong evidence that 'Increases in exercise training enhance skeletal muscle mass, strength, power and intrinsic neuromuscular activation'

• Strong evidence that regular PA is associated with improved bone health in children and adolescents.
• Strong evidence for regular PA to prevent falls in adults and older adults
• Muscular fitness (mass, strength, and power)
• Moderate evidence that PA is associated with increased bone density

Effect of physical activity on all cause mortality and premature death

• People who are insufficiently active have a 20 to 30% increased risk of death compared to people who are sufficiently active

• 'strong evidence demonstrates that compared to less active adult men and women, individuals who are more active have lower rates of all-cause mortality'

• Participation in physical activity decreases all-cause mortality.

• 'Strong evidence demonstrates a dose-response relationship between physical activity and all-cause mortality.
• 'Strong evidence demonstrates that the dose-response relationships between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and all-cause mortality do not vary by age, sex, race, or weight status'

• 'All-cause mortality is delayed by regularly engaging in physical activity'

Other health effects of physical activity

• Sufficient evidence that those who live a physically active life  have 'Improved digestion and regulation of the intestinal rhythm'