Anabolic

Exercise
for Health

Presented by:
Dr. Robert Newton
Foundation Professor in
Exercise Science
Edith Cowan University

Indeed, with the

possible exception of diet
modification, we know
of no single intervention
with greater promise than
physical exercise to
reduce the risk of
virtually all chronic
diseases simultaneously
Booth et al, JAP 2000

Physical
Inactivity and
Chronic
Disease

slow progress, long

continuance
individual crosses
threshold - clinical
horizon to manifest
mechanisms underlying
active long before
outwardly affected

Chronic
Disease

there has been an

epidemic emergence of
modern chronic diseases
in the latter part of the
20th century
costs in the USA are
now approaching $1
trillion
Booth et al, JAP 2000

Cost of
Chronic
Disease

coronary heart disease

(atherosclerosis, heart
failure, hypertension, and
stroke)
obesity
Type 2 diabetes
some cancers
osteoporosis
sarcopenia

Examples of
Major Chronic
Diseases

Medical research and

treatment is focused
almost entirely on
secondary and tertiary
prevention
Primary prevention is
cheaper, more effective,
and far less painful

Only fighting
half of the
battle: being
reactive instead
of proactive

the human genome

evolved over at least the
last 45,000 years within
an environment of high
physical activity
the current human
genome expects and
requires humans to be
physically active for
normal function and
health maintenance
Booth et al, JAP 2000
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We are
programmed
for physical
activity

There is no pharmacological
intervention that holds a greater promise
of improving health and promoting
independence in the elderly than does
exercise
Evans & Campbell, Journal of Nutrition, 1993

~ 250,000 deaths per

year in the US are
premature due to
physical inactivity
increases incidence of at
least 17 unhealthy
conditions
almost all of which are
chronic diseases or
considered risk factors
for chronic diseases
Booth et al, JAP 2000
9

Physical
Inactivity and
Chronic
Disease

Physical inactivity ranks

second only to tobacco
smoking in terms of the
burden of disease from
risk factors in Australia.
6% (second highest
burden for men) of the
total burden of disease
and injury among males
8% among females
(highest burden for
women)

AIHW: Mathers et al. 1999

Physical
Inactivity and
Chronic
Disease2

Adult participation in
sufficient physical activity
for a health benefit declined
from 62% in 1997 to 57%
in 2000.
Overweight and obesity
remains a serious problem,
affecting around 65% of
men, 45% of women and
22% of children aged 2-17
years.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Australias Health 2002
1

Physical
Inactivity and
Chronic
Disease3

leading cause of death among

Australians in 2000
49,741 deaths or 39% of all
deaths.
coronary heart disease 53%
stroke 25%
heart failure 5%
peripheral vascular disease 5%
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Australias Health 2002

Cardiovascular
Disease in
Australia

How
important is
physical
activity?
image from http://www.cotavic.org.au/ Living Longer Living Stronger

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Loss of muscle mass and

function
60% of over 80yrs
Anabolic exercise most
effective strategy to
prevent or reverse
sarcopenia

Sarcopenia

image from http://www.cotavic.org.au/

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nutrition (under-nutrition
and lack of vitamin D)
decreased hormone levels
(e.g growth hormone,
testosterone)
reduced physical activity
particularly high intensity
loss of nerves that
innervate the muscles

Causes of
Sarcopenia

image from http://www.cotavic.org.au/

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Grounds, M.D. Biogerontology, 2002

Diabetes is the world's

fastest growing disease
It's Australia's sixth leading
cause of death
Over one million
Australians have it but
50% are as yet unaware
Every 10 minutes someone
is diagnosed with diabetes

Diabetes

http://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/
16

Age-specific prevalence of impaired glucose

tolerance, 1999-2000
Age (years) Men%
Women%
2534
2.1
4.9
3544
4.8
8.5
4554
8.4
11.2
5564
14.8
15.2
6574
20.4
22.9
75+
25.5
20.7
Source: Dunstan et al. 2001.
Metabolic stage between normal and diabetes
Risk factor for Type 2 diabetes
Also greater risk of heart disease
Much higher in physically inactive and obese
Improved with physical activity and weight
reduction
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Impaired
Glucose
Tolerance

In addition to controlling weight,

physical activity also improves the
bodys sensitivity to insulin,
helping to lower blood sugar.
Even a single bout of vigorous
physical activity will have an
immediate effect on insulin
sensitivity.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Australias Health 2002
18

Impaired
Glucose
Tolerance

Exercise improves insulin

resistance
Beneficial for preventing
and treating type 2 diabetes
Aerobic exercise hindered
in older, obese, co-morbid
patients
Anabolic exercise safe and
effective

Resistance
Exercise
and
Diabetes

Willey and Singh. Diabetes Care, 2003

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It is estimated that
appropriate levels of
physical activity could
prevent 30-50% of new
cases of Type 2 diabetes
Benefits for preventing and
treating diabetes occur only
with regular sustained
physical activity patterns
Manson & Spelsberg,1994)

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Physical
Activity
and
Diabetes

Evidence is conclusive
Lifelong physical activity has
strong preventative effect
Anabolic exercise - greatest
efficacy
Example*
1 year study of strength
and endurance training
1.3% increase BMD in
training group
1.2% decrease for control

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Anabolic
Exercise and
Osteoporosis

*Kemmler et al. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 2003

Increased function e.g. stair

climb and descend, chair rise,
walking
Reduced ratings of pain
Reduced stiffness
Studies report anabolic
exercise to be safe, effective
and well tolerated in OA
patients

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Anabolic
Exercise and
Osteoarthritis

Feasible and safe in selected

patients with well-controlled
RA
Significant improvements in
strength, pain, and fatigue
Without exacerbating disease
activity or joint pain.

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Anabolic
Exercise and
Rheumatoid
Arthritis

Hakkinen, A. 2002 and 2003

People who are physically

inactive are nearly twice as
likely to develop colon cancer
(Colditz et al. 1997).
Physical activity is also
associated with around a 30%
reduction in the risk of women
of all ages developing breast
cancer
(Thune & Furberg 2001).

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Physical
activity and
cancer risk

Disease and treatment usually

results in debilitating fatigue
Research examining exercise
programs pre surgery and/or
during treatment

Prostate and Breast cancer

More accurate detection
25

Anabolic
Exercise

Increased vigor
Reduced muscle and bone loss
Enhanced immune function
Possible increase survival
Positive psychological influences

Exercise for
Cancer
Patients

Physical inactivity - risk factor

Mechanism unknown
Physical activity strong
positive effect
Slows progression of disease
Ageing population dementia
will become major problem

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Mental
Illness,
Dementia,
Alzheimers

Epidemiological studies into

Alzheimer disease indicates
physical activity appears
beneficial, as does a diet with
high levels of vitamins B6,
B12 and folate, while red
wine in moderate quantities
also appears protective

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Epidemiology

McDowell, I. Alzheimer's disease: insights from epidemiology. Aging-Clinical &

Experimental Research. 13:143-162, 2001.

Cholesterol
Exercise and nutrition demonstrated effects on:
Lowered TC
Lowered LDL-C
Increased HDL-C
Lowered triglycerides

Scranton, R., et al. Predictors of 14-year changes in the total cholesterol to high-density
lipoprotein cholesterol ratio in men. American Heart Journal. 147(6):1033-1038, 2004
28

Hypertension
Exercise can lower BP in patients with stage 1 and
2 essential hypertension
Average reduction in BP is 10.5 mm Hg for
systolic and 7.6 mm Hg for diastolic BP

Kokkinos, P. F., P. Narayan, and V. Papademetriou. Exercise as hypertension

therapy. Cardiology Clinics. 19:507-516, 2001.
29

Obesity and Overweight

Combination of exercise and dietary modification
is the only effective long-term strategy for
controlling body weight

30

accidental falls for >

65 years $83 million in
2001/02
1.5 % of health
expenditure in WA
cost per fall was
$6,500
Personal and family
cost much larger
31

Falls - Cost

Multifactorial
Range of physical
activity interventions
proven successful
Anabolic exercise
reverse loss of muscle
strength and slows bone
loss critical function
32

Falls Prevention

Must reverse our

concept of gentle
exercise
To maintain function,
reduce chronic disease,
enhance quality of life
MUST simulate preindustrial revolution!
Ageism! We need to
change our perceptions
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Deficiencies of
some physical
activity
programs for
seniors

Clearly life-long
physical activity
including resistance
exercise is crucial to
maintaining optimal
structure and function
into old age
Primary prevention is
imperative!

image from http://www.cotavic.org.au/

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Life-Long
Prevention
Strategy

Fighting Fit??
http://www.ucomics.com/closetohome/2004/03/07/

35

Edith
Cowan
University
International enrolments exceed 3,000 with students originating from
more than 80 countries.
ECU's origins go back to 1902 when it began as a teaching college.
Today it is Western Australia's second largest university with almost
23,000 students.
The University has three metropolitan campuses in Churchlands,
Mount Lawley and Joondalup and a regional campus in Bunbury, a
city 200kms south of Perth.

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More than 330 courses are offered through the five faculties:
Business and Public Management; Computing, Health and Science;
Communications and Creative Industries, which incorporates the
Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts; Community
Services, Education and Social Sciences; and the Faculty of Regional
Professional Studies

Certificates offered
Personal Training
Womens Wellness

Degrees offered
Bachelor of Science
(Sports Science)
Masters and PhD by
research
Masters of Exercise
Science (Strength and
Conditioning)
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Sport and
Exercise
Science

ECU Wellness
Training and certification
Professional development
On-going support
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Thank
You
www.ecu.edu.au

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