The long-term effects of effortless exercise on hormonal balance and health

Abstract

The practice of regular physical activity is recommended worldwide by different public health agencies for primary or secondary prevention of many health problems. Many interrelated biological mechanisms may underlie this association, such as the effect of physical activity on glucose metabolism, liver function, inflammation, immune function, and sex hormones. A previous study investigated the hypothesis that different exercise modalities including effortless exercise initiate anti-inflammatory, reparatory, and detoxification processes reinstating liver function, hormonal balance, visceral fat reduction and increased muscle mass. The current study explored the long-term results of effortless exercise on some of the same hormones previously researched such as Triiodothyronine (T3), testosterone and cortisol, as well as variables associated with optimal hepatic functioning and overall health, such as albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and bilirubin. Ten overweight individuals with an average BMI of 23.2 and an age range from 39 to 51 years old received six one-hour treatments. Blood tests were taken before the first treatment and after an average of 7 months. Subjects did not comply with the clinic’s nutritional recommendations. They maintained a high-caloric diet and an overall inactive lifestyle despite the clinic’s warning that their habitual patterns of living would be deleterious to their health. After an average of 7 months, AST and bilirubin remained optimally decreased in 100% of the subjects at a statistical significance level of p<0.0001 and p<0.01 respectively. GGT remained significantly decreased (p<0.01) in 80% of subjects and increased in 10% of subjects who were reported with GGT below the normal range. T3 and testosterone remained significantly increased (p<0.05) in 60% of the subjects, while cortisol remained decreased (p<0.05) in 70% of the subjects. Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and muscle mass remained increased in 80% of subjects at p<0.01 and p<0.05 respectively. Waist circumference remained significantly decreased (p<0.01) in 100% of the subjects after 7 months. Results of this longitudinal study indicate that effortless exercise has several health benefits for the majority of individuals, irrespective of their diet and lifestyle.