We know that exercise offers many benefits for our health. Many of the studies have focused on running and walking, as these are exercises that are aerobic and convenient to do. Less focus is placed on strength training. But a study from the University of Sydney in Australia suggests that strength training is also beneficial for our health.
The data of over 80,000 adults ages 30 years and above was analyzed. It was found that individuals who engaged in strength exercises had a 23 percent lower risk of death by all causes. There was also a 31 percent lower risk of cancer-related death. The study was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
In an earlier study in 2016, the health benefits of strength training for women included a 30 percent lower risk of Type 2 diabetes and 17 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease than those who did no strength training. If you added on 120 minutes a week of aerobic exercise to the strength training, the risk of Type 2 diabetes was 65 percent lower than women who didn’t do either exercise.
Strength training doesn't have to be intimidating weight lifting, but instead simple exercises using body weight like push-ups, lunges and squats. All of these exercises can be done at home!
Read more about the benefits of strength training via MNT and Time.