The health benefits of weightlifting include a lower risk of having a heart attack

Not many people know that weightlifting has several health benefits. And today, a new study conducted proves just that. Indulging in weightlifting can help reduce your risk of a heart attack or a stroke by 40 to 70 per cent. Weightlifting for less than an hour can lower the risk of developing metabolic syndrome including diabetes by 29 per cent. Also, the risk of high cholesterol lowers by 32 per cent with weightlifting.

“People may think they need to spend a lot of time lifting weights but just two sets of bench presses that take less than five minutes could be effective,” said Duck-chul Lee, Associate Professor from the Iowa State University in the US. The study proves that resistance exercise shows the benefits of strength training and is independent of running, walking or other aerobic activity. In other words, one does not need to meet the recommended guidelines for aerobic physical activity to lower your risk; weight training alone is enough. “Lifting any weight that increases resistance on your muscles is the key,” said Lee. “Muscle is the power plant to burn calories. Building muscle helps move your joints and bones… (and) also helps prevent obesity and provide long-term benefits on various health outcomes,” Lee noted.
Researchers have, however, recognised that unlike aerobic activity, resistance exercise is not as easy to incorporate into a daily routine, hence, hitting a gym may be more beneficial.