Could lifting weights actually help you live longer?

6 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on Google Dominic Hughes, Health correspondent, Lesley Hitchen, Health Producerand James Govan, Health Producer Weight-based training has grown in popularity in recent years Doing 90 minutes to two hours of weight training per week can greatly reduce the risk of an early death, according to new research. Data gathered from decades-long studies suggested that carrying out regular resistance or weight training over an extended period can significantly lower the chance of death from heart disease and stroke. The benefits also included reducing the risk of death from neurological disease. Experts said it was further evidence that strength-based training can help prevent or delay poor health and could ease pressure on overstretched health services. Kate Hogarth is only 28, but is already thinking about staying healthy later in life. The NHS says that regular aerobic activity can lower the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, alongside reducing stress and boosting self-esteem. But what's been less clear is the role strength-based training might play in lowering the risk of death. That is beginning to change. Researchers looked at data from three studies involving 147,374 men and women over 30 years. They found those who consistently did between 90 minutes and two hours of weight training every week lowered the risk of premature death from any cause by 13%. The risk of dying from cardiovascular disease – a heart attack or stroke for example – was 19% lower. For a death due to neurological disease - for example dementia - the fall was even greater, at 27%. Researchers concluded that the "lowest risks" were observed among those people who were doing high levels of both aerobic exercise and strength training. Among these most active people, who were doing many hours of aerobic exercise each week, the risk of an early death from any cause fell 58%. However, the researchers also found that doing more than two hours of strength training per week didn't really deliver any extra benefits.