Exercising to get ripped has health benefits for everyone, including the homeless. While this population may not have access to the best gym equipment, research has shown that playing outdoor soccer two or three times a week significantly reduces the risk of early death in people who live on the streets.
Researchers found that soccer is good exercise for everyone, as it encourages intense training and can be played almost anywhere. While homeless people tend to walk a lot, they rarely participate in intensive exercise.
"There seems to be great potential for improving the quality of many people's lives if local agencies could organize street [soccer] groups for homeless people," said Merete Nordentoft of the Psychiatric Center Copenhagen at the University of Copenhagen.
The scientists studied 55 homeless men who participated in soccer games two to three times a week for 12 weeks. By the end of the trial, the men had improved their cholesterol, body fat and blood pressure levels. This suggests that playing soccer could be one low-cost way to increase the health of this population.
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