Boot camp or buds? Does your man like to work out alone? Or does he prefer to be part of a team?
With men having a lower life expectancy than women – attributed to a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes – researchers are keen to know whether playing social sport or group exercise in a bootcamp format is better for improving men’s health, according to newswise.com.
Though the study is taking place in Australia, it's applicable anywhere.
The study is one of the first of its kind to look beyond the physical health impacts of sport participation in Australian Men, the web site says.
It will compare the health benefits of men aged 35-54 years as they participate in either traditional group circuit boot camp sessions, or a modified-rules Australian football program.
The study hopes to address the shortfall in understanding what form of physical activity is best for men’s health, says lead researcher, UniSA PhD student, Henry Blake.
“When it comes to exercise, Aussie men have dropped the ball, with fewer than 50 per cent reaching the recommended levels of physical activity,” Blake says at newswise.com. “This is worrying, especially as men are more susceptible to chronic health conditions, many of which can be prevented through regular exercise."
Distressingly, only 23 percent of US adults meet activity guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise, according to new data published this week from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. That's 26% of men, 19% of women and 20% of adolescents report sufficient activity to meet the relevant aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“We know that exercise and sport can help improve physical health," says Blake. "We also know that people are more likely to stick to an exercise program when it’s delivered in a group setting."
But what the study hopes to show, is whether there are any specific differences between group exercise or social sports that can deliver improved health benefits among Aussie men.
“Men in the study will be assigned either a modified Australian Rules football program, or an outdoor bootcamp/group exercise circuit program, where they’ll undertake two hour-long training sessions per week over a 12-week period," Blake explains.
“During this time, we’ll be gathering health information via wrist-worn physical activity monitors, a physical exercise performance test, blood lipid and glucose levels, as well as online questionnaire.
“By looking at the effects of these exercise programs on a range of markers of health and fitness, we’re hoping to see how men respond – not only in terms of their physical health, but also their mental health and social well-being," he concludes.
So America, what about you?