EVIDENCE OF THE ROLE OF PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY AND CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS IN THE PREVENTION OF CORONARY HEART-DISEASE

Epidemiologic evidence is presented on the now well-accepted contribut ions of physical inactivity and reduced cardiorespiratory fitness to r isk of coronary heart disease (CHD), the principal cause of death and disability in the United States and other Western industrialized natio ns. The types and dose of physical activity to reduce risk of CHD and plausible biologic mechanisms for the partial protective effect are al so reviewed.