Losing weight can become as simple as lifting weights, a new study shows. Weight lifting at least twice a week can stop that extra fat accumulating over your waist. In addition, it can ensure a healthy heart in middle aged women.
The study was conducted among nearly 164 obese or overweight women. The study participants between ages 24 and 44 were divided into two groups. The experimental group members were required to undertake strength training under supervision for a period of 16 weeks while the control group were provided with a brochure, recommending exercise on all days of the week for 30 minutes to one hour.Furthermore those under the strength training program were subjected to booster sessions quarterly for the next two years. Members of either group were instructed not to change their diet regime, to avoid any drastic weight changes during the course of the study.
At the end of two years, who had participated in the supervised strength training programme had a 3.7% decrease in body fat. No change was observed in the control group however. A significant reduction in the intra-abdominal fat was also observed. This fat serves as a major risk factor for heart disease and metabolic disturbances.
The result of this interesting study was presented at the annual conference Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, organized by the American Heart Association. The main advantage of this finding is that strength training is a time-efficient way to avoid small but significant annual increase in weight that may elevate the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
