Muscle-strengthening activities may lower risk of mortality, non-communicable diseases
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According to published results, regular engagement in muscle-strengthening activities, such as resistance training, may lower the risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.
Using MEDLINE and Embase data from inception to June 2021, researchers performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of 16 prospective cohort studies which examined the association between muscle-strengthening activities and risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and all-cause mortality in adult patients. According to the study, muscle-strengthening activities included resistance, strength and weight training as well as calisthenics. Activities such as carrying heavy loads and heavy gardening were excluded.
After review, researchers found muscle-strengthening activities were associated with a 10% to 17% lower risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD), total cancer, diabetes and lung cancer. Compared with no physical activity, combined muscle-strengthening and aerobic activities were also associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality, CVD and total cancer, the researchers noted. No associations were found between muscle-strengthening activities and the risk of site-specific cancers, such as colon, kidney, bladder and pancreatic cancer, they added.
Additionally, researchers observed a J-shaped association with the maximum risk reduction at approximately 30 to 60 minutes per week of muscle-strengthening activities for all-cause mortality, CVD and total cancer.
“These results suggest that optimal doses of muscle-strengthening activities for the prevention of all-cause death, CVD and total cancer may exist,” the researchers wrote in the study. “Promoting muscle-strengthening activities may help in reducing the risk of premature death and NCDs,” they concluded.
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