ABSTRACT
The previous chapter reviewed the epidemiological evidence suggesting that high levels of physical activity or fitness confer protection from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although this evidence is convincing, at least for coronary heart disease (CHD), it is limited by the fact that it is observational-demonstrating association rather than cause and effect. Intervention studies, particularly randomized intervention studies, provide much more convincing evidence for causality. Such trials have been conducted to assess the role of physical activity and fitness in modifying CVD risk factors. These studies demonstrate that activity/fitness can influence many of the risk factors for CVD. In doing so they provide evidence for biologically plausible mechanisms linking high levels of activity/fitness with protection from
NON-MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS
CVD. This evidence will now be examined, starting with an identification of the risk factors for CVD.
