Heart disease patients should aim to be active rather than thin

It turns out if you have coronary heart disease, increased physical activity, rather than weight loss, gives you a longer life. Norwegian researchers found that heart disease patients can gain weight without jeopardising their health, but inactivity increases the risks. They studied 3,307 people with CHD and checked them in 1985, 1996 and 2007, then followed them up to the end of 2014. The results were compared with data from the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry. The participants in the study were then divided into three categories: inactive, slightly physically active but below recommended activity level, and physically active at or above the recommended activity level. During the 30-year period, 1,493 of the participants died and 55% of the deaths were due to cardiovascular disease. Paradoxically, the researchers found that weight loss seems to be associated with increased mortality for the participants who were a normal weight at baseline. The study revealed that people who are physically active live longer than those who are not. Sustained physical activity over time led to a substantially lower mortality risk. The recommended activity level is at least 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity or 60 minutes per week of vigorous physical activity. The risk of premature death was higher for the group of patients who were completely inactive than for either of the other groups. The prognosis for people who exercise a little bit, even if it’s below the recommended level, is better than not exercising at all.