In young men, being fitter and having lower triglycerides both link to healthier arteries, but in young women, only fitness matters — triglycerides don’t seem to affect artery thickness in this group.

Evidence from Studies

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Contradicting (1)

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Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Carotid Intima–Media Thickness in Physically Active Young Adults: CHIEF Atherosclerosis Study

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2022 Jun 24

The study found that better fitness is linked to healthier arteries and high triglycerides are linked to thicker arteries, but it didn’t separate results for men and women — so we can’t tell if the claim about different effects in men vs. women is true.

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Carotid Intima–Media Thickness in Physically Active Young Adults: CHIEF Atherosclerosis Study

Score: 42

DOI: 10.3390/jcm11133653

Similar Assertions

Among young, active adults, high levels of triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood) are the only blood marker that consistently links to thicker artery walls — more than cholesterol, blood sugar, or belly fat.

42

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Young adults who can run 3000 meters faster tend to have thinner artery walls in their necks, which is a sign of less early artery damage, even if they’re overweight or have other risk factors.

42

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Whether young adults are normal weight or overweight, better fitness is just as strongly linked to thinner artery walls — meaning being fit helps your arteries even if you carry extra weight.

42

0

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