Strength training and hypercholesterolemia: an epidemiologic study of 8499 employed men.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to determine the relation between the quantity of strength training and hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol > or = 240 mg/dl) in men. A secondary objective was to ascertain the effects of age, smoking, alcohol use, body mass, and participation in physical activities other than strength training on the association between strength training and hypercholesterolemia.


METHODS
A cross-sectional research design was used.


METHODS
Data were collected at the worksites of subjects throughout the United States.


METHODS
The participants were 8499 male employees of more than 50 companies.


METHODS
Blood was drawn while the subjects were in a fasting state, and a questionnaire was used to collect the demographic and lifestyle information, including the data about strength training. The subjects were divided into five groups according to their self-reported duration and frequency (i.e., quantity) of participation in strength training.


RESULTS
Subjects who reported regular involvement in strength training had a reduced risk of hypercholesterolemia. However, after controlling for all the potential confounders, only the high-quantity lifters, those who completed 4 to 7 hours of strength training each week, maintained a reduced risk of hypercholesterolemia.


CONCLUSIONS
High-quality strength training is strongly associated with a reduced risk of hypercholesterolemia, even after controlling for numerous, potentially confounding factors (odds ratio = .46; 95% confidence interval = .23 to .91).
Tucker
L A
LA
Department of Physical Education, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA.
Silvester
L J
LJ
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology