Simple Lifestyles Changes Can Produce Big Payoffs

The path to a better, longer life may be shorter than you think

By Kathleen Doheny
HealthDay Reporter

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FRIDAY, July 20 (HealthDay News) -- By now, everyone knows the drill: Quit smoking, eat better, exercise, and you'll get healthier.

Now, two new studies uncover the wisdom in that tried-and-true advice. And they find that success may come quicker than most people realize.

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In one study, Christian Roberts and colleagues at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that lifestyle changes helped reverse serious heart disease risk factors in less than one month among 31 obese men they studied. That study was published online Jan. 10 in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

A second report -- this time by Stephanie Chiuve and colleagues at Harvard University -- found that men who followed five healthy habits had an 87 percent lower risk of getting heart disease than men who ignore these behaviors. The health habits included eating a prudent diet, exercising regularly, controlling weight, not smoking and drinking in moderation.

That study, which tracked more than 51,000 men for over 16 years, was published in the July 3 online edition of the journal Circulation

While both studies were done in men, the findings are expected to apply to women, said Chiuve. She noted that a separate study of women, published about five years ago, found that healthy behavior quickly reduced their risk of heart disease.

Following all five healthy habits is best, she says, but even if you change one or two habits, that's good, Chiuve said. The most important one to change: smoking.

"Not smoking was associated with the lowest risk for heart disease," Chiuve said. Next up was maintaining a healthy body weight -- that means sticking to a body mass index (BMI) below 25. For reference, a person 5 feet 5 inches tall who weighs 145 pounds has a BMI of 24, for instance. Statistical overweight begins at a BMI over 25.

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