A new study suggests that 90 minutes to two hours of weight training per week can reduce the risk of early death by 13%. The research, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that regular resistance training also lowers the risk of dying from heart disease and stroke by 19%, and from neurological disease by 27%.
The study followed 147,374 people for up to 30 years, tracking their aerobic and strength training activities. Participants who combined high levels of aerobic exercise with strength training saw the greatest benefits, with risk reductions of up to 58%.
Researchers caution that doing more than two hours of strength training per week does not provide additional benefits. Current NHS guidelines recommend strength activities on at least two days per week, along with 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity.
Tom Burton from Sport England highlighted the importance of strength training for healthy ageing, noting that active lifestyles prevent millions of chronic illness cases and save billions for healthcare services.
