In a new study from the University of New South Wales, researchers found strength training can help gain muscles and burn fat effectively.
They found people can lose around 1.4% of the entire body fat through strength training alone, which is similar to how much they might lose through cardio or aerobics.
The findings suggest that even when strength training is done on its own, it still causes a favorable loss of body fat without having to consciously diet or go running.
In the study, the team pulled together the findings from 58 research papers that used highly accurate forms of body fat measurement (like body scans, which can differentiate fat mass from lean mass) to measure the outcomes from strength training programs.
Altogether, the studies included 3000 participants, none of which had any previous weight training experience.
While the strength training programs differed between the studies, the participants worked out for roughly 45–60 minutes each session for an average of 2.7 times per week. The programs lasted for about five months.
The team found that, on average, the participants lost 1.4% of their total body fat after their training programs, which equated to roughly half a kilo in fat mass for most participants.
While the findings are encouraging for fans of pumping iron, the team says the best approach for people who are aiming to lose fat is still to stick to eating nutritiously and having an exercise routine that includes both aerobic/cardio and strength training.
If you care about exercise, please read studies about no pain, no gain in exercise for this common artery disease and findings of doing exercise this way may strongly benefit your heart health.
For more information about exercise and your health, please see recent studies about this exercise is key to improving older people’s longevity and results showing that this easy daily exercise may help you lower high blood pressure.
The study is published in Sports Medicine. One author of the study is Dr. Mandy Hagstrom.
Copyright © 2021 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
