Why strength train

Exercise is essential as a treatment and prevention for common lifestyle diseases such as diabetes , heart disease , obesity and arthritis. Strength training will help control blood glucose levels in diabetics or those at risk of diabetes, can help manage high blood pressure, strengthen muscles and bones to help manage arthritis and allow active living and improve quality of life in the elderly population. Safe and effective programming is essential for these populations to promote confidence and exercise adherence.

Quite often a focus for a lot of people is how they look and feel. Strength training is one of these best forms of exercise to promote weight loss and achieve optimal body composition.

Two or three or minute strength training sessions every week can result in significant health benefits:. The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team. Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.

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American Cancer Society news stories are copyrighted material and are not intended to be used as press releases. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy. For most healthy adults, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends these exercise guidelines:. As you incorporate strength training exercises into your fitness routine, you may notice improvement in your strength over time. As your muscle mass increases, you'll likely be able to lift weight more easily and for longer periods of time.

If you keep it up, you can continue to increase your strength, even if you're not in shape when you begin. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.

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This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. The best part: You don't have to spend all your time in the weight room. You can even do it at home, without fancy equipment. Here's why weight training may be what you need to get the scale moving in the right direction, plus a few tips and moves to get you started.

It's really pretty simple: Weight training builds muscle, and muscle burns more calories than fat-up to three times more , according to some estimates.

It doesn't end after you leave the gym either. Your body is still torching calories for the next 24 to 48 hours as it works to repair stressed muscle tissues. That's known as the afterburn effect, another name for excess post-exercise oxygen consumption EPOC.

The more oxygen you use both during and after a workout, the greater the EPOC. And studies show strength training is one of the best ways to do it. Think about it. With weight training, you're revving up your calorie burn.