Exercise Boosts Good Cholesterol

Now comes a study of previously studied studies, revealing that exercise appears to rev up our level of HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol. That's the good cholesterol, the kind you want to rev up. The Washington Post reports on the analysis, conducted by Japanese researchers who reviewed 25 studies published between 1966 and 2005, and assessed the effects of aerobic exercise on HDL cholesterol in a total of more than 1,400 adults ranging in age from 23 to 75. The studies lasted an average of 27.4 weeks. On average, the Post reports, participants exercised 3.7 sessions per week for 40.5 minutes each session, burning an average of 1,019 calories per week.  The paper reports that the findings showed that exercise resulted in an average increase in HDL cholesterol of 2.53 milligrams per deciliter. The minimum amount of exercise required to change HDL cholesterol levels was 120 minutes a week or 900 calories burned. Exercise had a greater impact in people with a higher total cholesterol level (220 milligrams per deciliter or greater) and in people with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 28 (obesity begins at a BMI of 30). Read more in the Washington Post.