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Health Story

 06 July 2008 01:16 BST

Football 'better than jogging' for weight loss

Thursday, 23 Aug 2007 13:16
Jogging is beneficial but football even more so, study finds

Health In Focus 

Football is both more enjoyable and better at promoting weight loss than jogging, according to new research.

Although the groups of people studied spent the same time exercising – one hour three times a week – those who played football saw massive health benefits.

The football team of 14 untrained men aged between 20 and 40 were followed for three months and in that time the total mass of their muscle went up, blood pressure fell, fat percentage went down and fitness ratings improved significantly.

In comparison the jogging group saw fewer advantages.

Both groups showed significant improvements in blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and balance.

But the soccer players lost 3.5 kilos of fat and gained more than two kilos of extra muscle mass, whereas the joggers lost two kilos of fat and showed no change in total muscle mass.

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen, the Copenhagen University Hospital and Bispebjerg Hospital argue that the reason for the disparity is that shifts between walking, running and sprinting causes football players to experience better health improvements.

They also argue that football is more enjoyable than jogging, as it is easier to push aside thoughts of how hard the exercise is.

"In the fight against obesity and inactivity, soccer seems to be an obvious alternative to jogging and fitness," said sports scientist Peter Krustrup.

"Soccer is a popular sport in large parts of the population, and experience tells us that there are good chances of growing a permanent affiliation with a sport when it is both fun and combined with your social life."

The researchers have now applied for grants to further the results in physiological trials.
End of story


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