Football cuts risk of heart disease, diabetes

A new study shows that long-term recreational football training improved the health of 63 to 75 year old untrained men, reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Thomas Rostgaard Andersen, lead researcher, from Copenhagen University's department of nutrition, exercise and sports said the improvements contribute significantly to reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The study went on over a full year and examined both the immediate effects and the long-term benefits of the training. All participants completed the full 52 weeks of training and most of the participants are still playing football together twice a week, two years after the research period finished. The findings showed that after 4 months' football training, the cardiovascular fitness scores improved by 15 percent, interval work capacity increased by 43 percent and functional capacity by 30 percent. After a year, a three percent reduction in BMI, with an increased ability to control blood sugar and an improved capacity to handle harmful oxygen radicals, the study found.