Lifting weights regularly could reduce the risk of dying prematurely, a study has found.
A combination of “iron pumping” and aerobic exercise every week reaped the most benefit, the researchers said.
Academics from the US National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland looked at data from nearly 100,000 adults participating in a screening study in the US.
The participants, who had an average age of 71, gave information about their weightlifting activity and any other exercises they participated in.
Some 23% said they had weightlifted and 16% said they weightlifted regularly at least one to six times a week.
Nearly a third (32%) were deemed “active enough” by the researchers, with 24% meeting aerobic activity guidelines and 8% exceeding them.
During a follow-up period of 9.6 years, 28,477 of the participants died.
The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that adults who said they had weightlifting had a 9% lower “all-cause mortality risk”.
A similar observation was found for heart disease deaths, but no link was found between weightlifting and cancer deaths.
Those who participated in “regular” weightlifting had a 14% lower risk of death, while those who met aerobic activity levels had a 32% lower risk of death.
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Adults who reported meeting aerobic activity and weight lifting guidelines at least once or twice a week had a 41-47% lower risk of death during the study period.
“Weightlifting in older adults was independently associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality,” the authors wrote.
“Among adults reporting no aerobic MVPA (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity), any weightlifting exercise was associated with 9-22% lower all-cause mortality.
“Lower all-cause mortality was observed in older adults who engaged in aerobic exercise or weight lifting, but the lowest mortality risk was observed in adults who reported both types of exercise.
“The mortality benefit associated with weightlifting presented here provides clinicians and other healthcare professionals with early evidence that older adults would likely benefit from adding weightlifting exercises to their physical activity routines.”
Adults are encouraged to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week.
They are also encouraged to do “strengthening exercises” that work the legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms at least two days a week.
Lifting weights regularly could reduce the risk of dying prematurely, a study has found.
A combination of “iron pumping” and aerobic exercise every week reaped the most benefit, the researchers said.
Academics from the US National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland looked at data from nearly 100,000 adults participating in a screening study in the US.
The participants, who had an average age of 71, gave information about their weightlifting activity and any other exercises they participated in.
Some 23% said they had weightlifted and 16% said they weightlifted regularly at least one to six times a week.
Nearly a third (32%) were deemed “active enough” by the researchers, with 24% meeting aerobic activity guidelines and 8% exceeding them.
During a follow-up period of 9.6 years, 28,477 of the participants died.
The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that adults who said they had weightlifting had a 9% lower “all-cause mortality risk”.
A similar observation was found for heart disease deaths, but no link was found between weightlifting and cancer deaths.
Those who participated in “regular” weightlifting had a 14% lower risk of death, while those who met aerobic activity levels had a 32% lower risk of death.
Read more:
Drinking two to three cups of coffee a day linked to longer life
Lift weights twice a week to improve bone density, adults say
Experts say it’s about how often you exercise, not how much
Adults who reported meeting aerobic activity and weight lifting guidelines at least once or twice a week had a 41-47% lower risk of death during the study period.
“Weightlifting in older adults was independently associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality,” the authors wrote.
“Among adults reporting no aerobic MVPA (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity), any weightlifting exercise was associated with 9-22% lower all-cause mortality.
“Lower all-cause mortality was observed in older adults who engaged in aerobic exercise or weight lifting, but the lowest mortality risk was observed in adults who reported both types of exercise.
“The mortality benefit associated with weightlifting presented here provides clinicians and other healthcare professionals with early evidence that older adults would likely benefit from adding weightlifting exercises to their physical activity routines.”
Adults are encouraged to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week.
They are also encouraged to do “strengthening exercises” that work the legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms at least two days a week.