Does Strength Training Make You Live Longer?

Many Koreans have embraced strength training like lifting weights in lockdown, with a protein diet to help them build up muscle, but does that actually make them healthier?

In a new survey recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers reviewed 16 studies of adults on the health benefits and found that people who trained steadily showed a 15 percent reduction in death risk, a 17 percent lower chance of diabetes or cardiovascular diseases, and a 12 percent lower risk of cancer.

Doing 30 to 60 minutes of muscle training per week brought the best results. Longer than that actually increased the death risk because of sheer exhaustion.

Combined with aerobic exercise like walking, jogging or biking, the death risk was further reduced by 40 percent.

Strength training helps strengthen muscles and bones. It reduces the risk of falls by improving balance and helps control blood sugar levels by reducing abdominal fat. It can also be good for mental health as a good body boosts confidence.