Resistance training for health
The evidence is conclusive.
We all know that physical activity has health benefits. Anything is better than nothing. But often the best form of physical activity is the one we are able/willing to do. Telling everyone to do something they hate/can’t afford/have low skill/have no facilities for, is destined for failure.
This is why we need to espouse the benefits of varied forms of physical activity.
One major form of physical activity is resistance training: anything that has to overcome gravity. For individuals with cardiometabolic health impairments, the American College of Sports Medicine and the World Health Organisation recommend resistance training at least twice a week.
The latest evidence
To understand the effects of resistance training on cardiometabolic health-related outcomes in type 2 diabetes mellitus and overweight/obese patients, researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
This study, ‘Impact of resistance training on cardiometabolic health-related indices in patients with type 2 diabetes and overweight/obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials’ in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, is free to read!
The authors found 18 randomised control trials that showed resistance training may improve cardiometabolic health-related outcomes, such as anthropometrics, glycolipid metabolism, low-grade chronic inflammation, liver function, and physical function among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and overweight/obese individuals.
This is fantastic news (albeit known for some time to many people) and will help many people, if they hear about it.
What can we do to spread the word?
In 2025, I am still puzzled by the resistance to resistance training (sorry, couldn’t help myself). The evidence of the benefits of resistance training for health is becoming increasingly prevalent, yet a stigma remains attached.
Part of this is due to the endemic ‘GymBro’ culture in many commercial facilities (including staff members).
Part of it is an antiquated fear of ‘getting muscle-bound,’ fuelled by ‘Mum-chat.’
Part of it is a false dichotomy: ‘strength versus cardio’ (whatever the heck ‘cardio’ means), set up by internet ‘gurus’ who want to create arguments to boost their ratings.
All of this means I (and other health professionals) have to work hard to ‘sell’ the benefits beyond that of teenage boys wanting to impress each other.
At my sports club in Willand, Devon, I run weightlifting classes for women and teenagers. I run athletic development sessions for children aged 10-14 that include resistance training exercises.
I’m going to share this latest research and infographic with the members and their parents. I hope you can too.
In other news, my latest novel, Stone and Water, was published last week. You can buy it on Amazon here
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