Aerobic exercise boosts testosterone
As men age, testosterone levels decrease. This can cause a number of physical and emotional changes, including weight gain, loss of bone density, depression, and reduced sex drive. A new study, however, suggests that for men who are overweight or obese, a 12-week aerobic exercise program can significantly boost testosterone levels.
Lead researcher Hiroshi Kumagai, of Tsukuba University in Japan, and colleagues recently presented their findings at the American Physiological Societys Integrative Biology of Exercise VII Meeting in Phoenix, AZ.
Testosterone is a predominantly male sex hormone, mainly produced by the testicles.
In men, testosterone is responsible for sustaining sperm production, sex drive, facial and body hair, muscle size and strength, fat distribution, red blood cell production, and bone density.
According to the Mayo Clinic, mens testosterone levels typically start to decrease from the age of 30 or 40, falling around 1 percent each year.
Kumagai and colleagues note that obesity is a leading risk factor for low testosterone levels. A 2015 study from the team established a link between diet and exercise and increased testosterone levels in men who were overweight or obese.
For the new study, the researchers set out to determine how regular aerobic exercise alone might affect the testosterone levels of overweight or obese men. Overweight, obese men saw rise in testosterone with exercise program
The study involved 44 men, of whom 28 were overweight or obese and 16 were a normal weight. None of the men engaged in regular exercise.
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