Should We Focus on Weight Training, not Weight loss?

A new study suggests that having more muscle and less fat reduces the risk of early death in people with heart disease. In this current study, Dr. Preethi Srikanthan of the University of California, Los Angeles and colleagues analyzed data gathered from more than 6,400 Americans with heart disease. Investigators found that people with higher amounts of muscle and lower levels of body fat were less likely to die of heart problems or any other causes than the three other groups, based on body composition. The groups were: low muscle/high fat, low muscle/low fat or high muscle/high fat. The people with more muscle were more likely to have a high BMI, which describes the “obesity paradox”, where people with a higher BMI have lower death rates. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, resistance training (also known as strength training) can be done at home by filling used milk jugs with sand. Or, the traditional route can be taken by using free weights, dumbbells, weight machines and medicine balls. The concentration of building muscle instead of losing weight can be a beneficial factor in ultimate health.

https://consumer.healthday.com/fitness-information-14/weight-lifting-health-news-290/building-muscle-may-help-protect-heart-patients-710274.html