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As resources make fitness clubs more accessible, a new study links the anti-inflammatory effects of fitness to less heart attacks.

The study of 135 women found those with better fitness levels had lower levels of CRP, a protein that indicates inflammation and can cause heart attacks. People with elevated CRP levels should begin regular exercise with guidance from their physician, says researcher Dr. Michael LaMonte, director of exercise testing and research at The Fitness Institute, LDS Hospital. Two companies now make it easier for employers to promote fitness. The International Fitness Club (401-453-1232) is especially helpful for larger employers with employees abroad. Companies pay a small fee based on employee population (as low as $1.00 each for the biggest) and have a choice of discounted memberships in more than 2,600 health clubs in 40 countries. And a network called GlobalFit (215-320-4216) is smaller, with 1,147 U.S. clubs. Employers sign up but pay nothing, employees get a discounted membership and the network handles all the health clubs' paperwork. They allow employees to "freeze" their membership (drop out for as long as s ix months), and transfer from one member club to another. Says Dr. LaMonte, "We're talking about being active on a regular basis; a good benchmark is to be able to walk a mile-and-a-half in about 30 or 35 minutes."

# posted by Medical Information : 5:16 AM