Prescribing exercise for the healthy assessment of compliance and effects on plasma lipids and lipoproteins

Of 511 men and women aged 44-45 years examined in the town of East Kilbride in the West of Scotland, 140 were identified as apparently healthy non-obese non-smokers. Sixty six of these volunteered to take part in an exercise study lasting six months. Fifty five eventually completed the study. Subjects were randomly allocated to three different types of exercise, one of which was a 'control' programme. The least fit groups in each sex showed the greatest physiological response to training. Considerable individual variation in compliance was encountered. It was found that walking exercise rather than more formal exercise regimens was most acceptable. The effect of physical training for six months on fasting plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations was assessed in 20 men and 16 women. Plasma triglyceride concentration was significantly reduced in both sexes whilst plasma total cholesterol was unchanged. In males high density lipoprotein (HDL) rose significantly whereas in the females low density lipoprotein (LDL) fell significantly. It is possible that these changes may reduce the risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) in exercising subjects.