High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Other Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease in Female Runners

Abstract

Official guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assert that the majority of health benefits from physical activity are obtained by walking 2 miles (3.2 km) briskly most days of the week (the energy equivalent of running 8 to 12 km per week). The objective of our study was to examine the dose–response relation in women between risk factors for coronary heart disease, particularly the concentration of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and vigorous exercise at levels that exceed the official guidelines.