Strength training and hypercholesterolemia: an epidemiologic study of 8499 employed men.

PURPOSE

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.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional research design was used.

SETTING

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

SUBJECTS

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

MEASURES

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).