Weight training has been linked to a number of health benefits, ranging from stress to reducing risk of developing osteoporosis. Recently a study by Penn State and Colombia universities has been able to not only confirm but also quantify some of those health benefits. The researchers analysed the data from the US National Death Index, over the duration of 15 years from 1996 to 2011. Interestingly enough they have found a correlation between older adults engaging in weight training and lower odds of death. In fact older adults that followed a weight training routine at least twice a week had 46% lower odds of death for any reason as oppose to adults that didn’t not follow the same training routine. The same study showed that older adults that lifted weights also had 41% lower odds of cardiac death and 19% lower odds of dying from cancer. On the other hand, adults that just engaged in the general physical activities failed to replicate the benefits of the adults that engaged in weight training. So it seems that there may be another missing link why lifting weights is so effective but the research hasn’t been able to discover it just yet.
If you are not currently including weight training in your workout routine, then it is time to start making some adjustments. Weight training can help to promote fat loss and decrease muscle wastage with age but now it seems you can also help to reduce odds of death.
Idealbody4life personal training team can help to ascertain the best weight training routine that will help you achieve your health and fitness goals, while reducing the risk of injury that can occur if you are lifting with an incorrect form or weights that are too heavy.