Weight training may carry significant long-term health benefits

According to the America College of Sports Medicine report, weight lifting in early life may lessen the likelihood of age-related muscle degeneration and allow adults to live independently longer.

This report was published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

In this study, the research team compiled files from 49 studies to gather this report. It was discovered that older people acquire an average of 2.43 lbs. of lean body mass, mainly muscle, soon after strength training for about 5 months.

The 2.43 lb. increase thwarts the 0.4 lbs of muscle loss yearly by sedentary adults over the age of 50.

Strength training performed early in life offers more optimized effects and puts off age-related muscle degeneration called sarcopenia. This brings about mobility disability and dependence.

Millions of adults in the United States are dealing with sarcopenia, according to Dr. Mark Peterson, the study’s lead author. There is a link connecting lean body mass and resistance exercises, and performing resistance exercise may also decrease the risks of bone loss as adults age.

The study involves more than 5,000 references and 49 studies with 81 associates chosen for inclusion. The ACSM and the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans propose that people should have a minimum of 150 minutes of reasonably extreme physical activity weekly.