According to a recent article from Science Daily, a 12-week exercise program has been shown to significantly increase testosterone levels in men who are obese or overweight. Those who exercised more vigorously showed an even higher percentage in testosterone level increase than those who only exercised modestly during that 12-month period. These results are based on a study that was presented at the Biology of Exercise 7 meeting in Arizona.
This is good news, though it might not be welcomed news to the drug companies that make testosterone replacement hormone drugs. As we are told on the many commercials and magazine ads, men will experience lower testosterone or “T” levels, as they have coined, as they get older. This is part of the normal male aging process, and the “symptoms” of normal male aging are gaining weight, loss of libido, fatigue, mild depression, loss of muscle tone, and other similar similar symptoms.
The drug companies insist that if we take testosterone hormone, which is available in pills, skin creams, gels, sublingual films, deodorants, skin patches, injections, to name some of the delivery methods, we will no longer have to worry about these symptoms.
However, this is not supported by research and doctors are not sure there is even any benefit to taking testosterone replacement therapy drugs, unless you have the very rare medical condition known as hypogonadism. It would be safe to say that the vast majority of men taking testosterone replacement therapy drugs do not have hypogonadism, though that it the only condition for the which the FDA has actually approved the medication.
While doctors have little or no evidence taking testosterone hormone supplements actually helps these men, there is ample evidence that taking these drugs will result in an increased risk for heart disease and stroke. As you can discuss with your Boston testosterone injury lawyer, the FDA has just issued new warnings about the danger of taking testosterone replacement therapy hormone or other androgenic steroids.
Since the benefits of increased testosterone are not known, and the risks of taking it are known, anyone who wants to raise his testosterone level might benefit from an exercise program such as the one discussed in this article. That would allow him to raise his testosterone level without the need to take a dangerous drug. However, it is best to speak with your doctor before starting any new exercise program.
This study operated under the premise that obesity is one of the biggest reasons men will have relatively lower testosterone levels. The study included a group of normal weight men and a group of overweight or obese men. None of the participants were regular exercisers prior to the study. When they started the study, the normal weight men had a slightly higher testosterone level on average. All of these men were told to jog or walk for 40 to 60 minutes three days a week. At the conclusion of the 12 weeks, testosterone levels were checked again. The study found an increase in testosterone for the overweight or obese men, but there was no change for the normal weight males.
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Additional Resources:
12-week exercise program significantly improved testosterone levels in overweight, obese men, November 4, 2016, Science Daily
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