Scientists from the University of Eastern Finland have found that a sedentary lifestyle can increase heart size in adolescents. The study was published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Sport Sciences.
Doctors studied the effect of a sedentary lifestyle, light physical activity, and moderate to vigorous physical activity on the structure and function of the heart. 530 adolescents aged 17 years were included in the study.
Researchers have found that both a sedentary lifestyle and moderate to vigorous physical activity are associated with increased left ventricular mass. However, the increase in heart mass associated with a sedentary lifestyle was three times greater than the increase in heart mass associated with physical activity. At the same time, light physical activity was not associated with an increase in cardiac mass, but with an improvement in cardiac function. These effects were similar for both normal weight and obese adolescents.
It is known that an increase in heart mass of 5 g/m2 in adults increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and death by 7-20%. Scientists believe that an enlarged heart in adolescents may be an acceptable negative side effect, given the health benefits associated with physical activity.