The survey showed that female students prefer lower-body and core strength workouts, while male students tend to focus on training the upper body, he said, adding that 47.1 percent of male students train only the upper body. The blood vessels contract and blood flow increases, potentially increasing pressure in the blood vessels and the stiffness of the vessels, making the individual more susceptible to cardiovascular disease, he said. Wang said he found that among adults aged 65 or older, the prevalence of atherosclerosis in the neck, which could lead to cardiovascular disease, was about 49 percent for men and 33 percent for women. A Chang Gung University study found that people with waist-to-thigh ratios of 1.8 or above have a two times greater risk of developing chronic disease, university vice president Hsu Kuang-hung (許光宏) said. For example, squats improve cardiovascular health and lower the risk of chronic disease, Chiou added.

Source: Taipei Times November 08, 2019 16:01 UTC