30-60 minutes of weekly muscle strengthening activity linked to lower death risk: Study

Mar 02, 2022

New Delhi, Mar 02 (ANI): It has been known that regular exercise has a lot of health benefits. But what is the minimum time of exercise required to ensure optimal health, considering everyone's busy lifestyle? A pooled data analysis of the available evidence has found that 30 to 60 minutes of muscle-strengthening activity every week is linked to a 10-20 per cent lower risk of death from all causes, and from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, in particular. The study was published in the 'British Journal of Sports Medicine'. The findings are independent of aerobic exercise. But the analysis points to a J-shaped curve for most outcomes, with no conclusive evidence that more than an hour a week of muscle-strengthening activity reduces the risk further still. Physical activity guidelines have recommended regular muscle-strengthening activities for adults, primarily because of the known benefits for skeletal muscle health. Examples of these activities include lifting weights; working with resistance bands; push-ups, sit-ups, and squats; and heavy gardening, such as digging and shoveling. The combination of muscle strengthening and aerobic activities may provide a greater benefit for reducing all-cause, cardiovascular disease, and total cancer mortality.