Worcester Fitness – Health E-Review Volume 9, Issue 7; Special Edition: Best Men’s Studies

Men Can Manage Angry Moods with More Exercise

Many studies have examined the correlation between exercise and mood. But little has been done to uncover the effects of exercise as it relates to anger, until this study. The research team assessed angry mood and emotions in 16 collegiate men high in “trait anger.” The subjects viewed anger-inducing scenes before and after 30 minutes of leg-cycling exercise at 65 percent of their maximal oxygen uptake. The investigators measured oscillatory brain activity, the event-related late-positive potential (LPP), and self-reports of anger intensity during picture viewing.

Researchers found that exercise protected against angry mood onset much like taking aspirin to prevent a heart attack. Lead investigator Nathaniel Thom, Ph.D., a stress physiologist commented, “In other words, exercise really is like medicine.”

American College of Sports Medicine. (2010, June 4). Exercise is good medicine for preventing and reducing an angry mood. Retrieved from http://www.acsm.org.

Men Who Start Exercising In Midlife Live Longer

Exercise recommendations from the government advise that everyone be active, from children and teenagers to adults and older adults – even people with disabilities and chronic conditions are encouraged to be active within their capabilities. In an ideal world, everyone would make exercise a lifelong habit, however some people have not yet caught on. However, a new Swedish study shows that it’s never too late to begin exercising. Although the benefits of an active life are greater if one starts earlier, science shows that starting late is much better than never.

For the study, researchers collected data on 2,205 men who were 50 years old and then followed them for 35 years. Each time, they were surveyed about physical activity, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, smoking habits and alcohol use. Results showed that men who led sedentary lives were most likely to die during the follow-up period. In fact, men who exercised the most lived, on average, 2.5 years longer. Also, amongst previously sedentary men who began to exercise at 50, mortality rates were originally high, but after exercising for 10 years, their mortality rates dropped to nearly equal those of their more active peers.

Byberg L, et al. (2009). Total mortality after changes in leisure time physical activity in 50 year old men: 35 year follow-up of population based cohort. British Medical Journal, epub.

Muscular Strength Is Linked To Lower Mortality In Men

Building muscle is an important part of any exercise regimen. Muscle tissue has many vital functions, including basic movement and fine motor skills as well as the functioning of the cardiovascular and digestive systems, just to name a few. It is also about 15 percent more dense than fat tissue, and is much more effective at metabolizing calories and fat.

For this study, researchers followed a group of 8,674 men aged 20-80 for an average of 18.9 years each. Over that time, maximal one-repetition tests were done with chest and leg exercises to measure muscular strength. During the course of the study, 503 men died of various causes. After much data analysis, and controlling for a host of factors such as age and occupation, researchers were able to conclude that muscular strength is significantly and inversely correlated to mortality from all causes. They emphasize the need for resistance training as part of a healthy exercise routine.

Ruiz JR, et al. (2008). Association between muscular strength and mortality in men: Prospective cohort study. British Medical Journal, epub.