Harvard study finds the strength-training sweet spot for a longer life
A Harvard study of more than 147,000 adults tracked over about 30 years found that 90 to 120 minutes of strength training a week was linked to the biggest drop in death risk. Benefits leveled off beyond two hours a week, and even small amounts beat doing none.
A new Harvard study points to a clear strength-training sweet spot for longevity. Researchers tracked more than 147,000 adults for about 30 years across three large health studies, with an average age of 54. People doing 90 to 119 minutes of strength training a week had a 13 percent lower risk of death from any cause, a 19 percent lower risk from cardiovascular disease, and a 27 percent lower risk from neurological disease. No added benefit appeared beyond two hours a week, and even one to twenty-nine minutes a week lowered risk compared to none. Combining strength work with regular aerobic exercise produced even stronger results. The findings were published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.