Figure 2. Effects of >1500 versus <200 calories per week of exercise/physical activity on risk factors and their impact on coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease.

The filled bars show the risk reduction due to high levels of physical activity for all traditional risk factors in combination and for specific individual risk factors. The effects of exercise on traditional risk factors explained less than half the risk of coronary heart disease and ∼60% of cardiovascular disease. Data from Mora et al. (2007). HbA1c = elevated glycosylated haemoglobin.