Japan: Study on Muscle-Strengthening Activities

The findings of a new study show that muscle-strengthening activities are inversely related to the risk of all-cause mortality and major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, total cancer, and lung cancer. However, the impact of a higher volume of muscle-strengthening activities on CVD, all-cause mortality, and total cancer is unclear when the observed J-shaped associations are considered.

Haruki Momma and colleagues undertook this study with the goal of quantifying the correlations between muscle-strengthening activities and the risk of noncommunicable illnesses and death in people irrespective of aerobic activity. The data on this study was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

This prospective cohort study was a meta-analysis and systematic review which sources Medline and Embase from conception through June 2021, as well as the reference lists of all connected articles. Research that looked at the relationship between muscle-strengthening activities and health outcomes in persons over the age of 18 who didn't have any serious health problems were taken into account for this study.

Results of the Study

• The requirements were satisfied by sixteen studies. Muscle-strengthening exercises were linked to a 10–17% decreased risk of all-cause mortality, CVD, total cancer, diabetes, and lung cancer.
• There was no link discovered between muscle-strengthening exercises and the incidence of certain site-specific malignancies (kidney, colon, bladder, and pancreatic cancers).
• For all-cause mortality, CVD, and total cancer, J-shaped associations with the greatest risk reduction (approximately 10–20 percent) were discovered at approximately 30–60 minutes per week of muscle-strengthening activities, whereas an L-shaped association with a large risk reduction at up to 60 minutes per week of muscle-strengthening activities was discovered for diabetes.
• A decreased risk of all-cause, CVD, and total cancer mortality was related to a combination of muscle-strengthening and aerobic exercises (vs none).

In conclusion, the findings of this work point that lifting weights in the gym appears to lessen the risk of all-cause mortality as well as the chance of developing non-communicable illnesses (NCDs) such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Reference

Giovannucci EL, Rezende LFM, Lee DH. Muscle-strengthening activities and risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and mortality: A review of prospective cohort studies. J Intern Med. 2021 Oct;290(4):789-805. doi:10.1111/joim.13344. Epub 2021 Jul 2. PMID: 34120373.