To investigate the relation between HDLC levels and walking habits, we performed a cross-sectional study on 459 men aged 40-69 who participated in a health examination of southwest rural towns in 1991-92, and who had not been treated for hyperlipidemia. Before health examinations, estimated paticipants walking habits by using pedometers during three consecutive days. After adjusting for age, body mass index, alcohol intake, and cigarette smoking, average steps per day were positively associated with high-density lipoprotein levels. After the same independent variables were adjusted, multiple regression analysis of HDLC factors indicated that the coefficient for 1, 000 steps per day was 0.7, which was highly significant (P<0.001). These results suggest walking habits are associated with higher HDLC levels and a reduced risk of coronary heart disease.
