Words: Laurence McJannet | Photography: Shutterstock
Keep hitting the weights well into your twilight years, a new study suggests, as regular weight training in old age can reduce your risk of dying early. And combining weight training with regular aerobic activity can lower that risk even further – by up to 47%.
Researchers from the US National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland, examined data from almost 150,000 adults, aged between 55 and 74, in the largest study of its kind. The results from the major screening study show for the first time that weight training in old age has been linked with a lower risk of premature death – something aerobic exercise is consistently associated with.
Participants disclosed their weight-lifting activity, with 23% saying they took part in weight training, and 16% reporting they did so between one to six times a week. Almost one third of participants met NHS exercise recommendations for over-65s. These include taking part in 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise a week. The NHS also encourages the over-65s to do strengthening activities twice a week.