A
According to a recent report, about 15% of the people in the UK are members of gyms. But are they more likely to be fit?
A study found that gym members were 14 times more active than people who didn’t belong to any health club. Gym members did six hours more exercise a week, and this activity did make them fitter than non-gym members. They also spent less time sitting down every day than non-gym members. The results were the same for men and women.
The study included 405 people between the ages of 30 and 64, and the main characteristics of those who were gym members were the same as those who were not. “But gym members did more training than non-gym members,” said the lead author, Elizabeth Schroeder of the University of Illinois.
While it might seem clear that gym members exercising more are healthier than non-members, Schroeder says this has not been directly shown before. However, the study is only designed to show a tie between gym membership and more exercise. It may be that active people like to join gyms. In the study, people who exercised as much as gym members were also in good health.
You can get the same benefits wherever you exercise. This study shows a gym membership can make you do more exercise, but other research shows that exercising outside has other help. Outdoor activities can make you feel happy about life—especially if you run through a forest.
Outdoor exercise is also more enjoyable than going to the gym. The first five minutes of outdoor exercise is especially helpful in making people feel good. But Schroeder says that a gym may also encourage greater exercise because it can be social and fun.
21. What did the new study find out?
A. Gym members had healthier eating habits.
B. There were fewer women gym members than men.
C. Gym members did at least eight hours of exercise a week.
D. Gym members were more active than non-gym members.
22. In the study, researchers studied ____________________.
A. some sports lovers
B. 405 gym members
C. people from different age groups
D. 30 gym members and 64 non-gym members
23. Which of the following will Elizabeth Schroeder agree with?
A. Women should do more gym exercise.
B. We should be careful with outdoor training.
C. Outdoor exercise is better than gym exercise.
D. It is easier to keep exercising if you go to the gym.
