Amy Norton
Reuters
Losing fitness or packing on fat with age each can be bad for the heart — but avoiding either one of those fates may protect the ticker, a study published Monday suggests.
U.S. researchers found that of more than 3,100 healthy adults they followed, those who improved — or simply maintained — their fitness levels were less likely to develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol or other well-established heart disease risk factors.
Similarly, people who maintained their weight had fewer of those red flags than people who became heavier over time.
Cartoon by Bob Moran
