In fitness and in health ...

09 April 2015 - 02:51 By Katharine Child

If your spouse exercises, not only will they look better but you, too, will be more likely to leave the couch and hit the gym. Researchers from Tel Aviv University and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health analysed interviews with Americans from a heart study that began in 1987.Looking at data on 3261 couples, scientists found that if a woman reported regular exercise her husband was 70% more likely to report exercising when the couple was interviewed six years later.Women had more influence on spouses than husbands. If a man exercised, his wife was only 40% more likely to join him.Exercise was judged as 75 minutes of vigorous exercise a week.The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week to reduce the likelihood of many lifestyle diseases.Study researcher Dr Silvia Koton from the Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine, said: "It was well known that spouses exhibit similar risky behaviours like smoking and drinking, but it wasn't clear how an individual's level of physical activity was influenced by changes in his or her spouse's level of physical activity."Our study tells us that spouses can have a positive impact on one another in terms of staying fit and healthy over time."The study was presented at the American Heart Association's Lifestyle 2015 Scientific Sessions in March."Our findings suggest that physical activity promotion efforts should consider targeting couples," said Koton.Local personal trainer Ronald Abvajee said: "I always say fitness outside of the sheets leads to fitness between the sheets."But he said it was common for husbands to discourage their wives from exercising. "Many clients tell me they lost a lot of weight and their husbands got angry."Men assumed their fitter, slimmer wives or girlfriends were trying to find another man."If you are training and you cancel a session with your partner, you know how much trouble you will be in. There is accountability when with a partner," Abvajee said...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.