Michael 0'Shea answers questions on fitness for Parade Magazine's Better Fitness. Here is what he has to say.
Yes, regular strength training lowers your percentage of body fat and adds muscle tissue, both of which can help guard against heart disease. In fact, a study released last month reported that 104 adults aged 55 to 75 reduced their rate of metabolic syndrome by 41% after 6 months by adding 20 minutes of weightlifting to their aerobic routine. (metabolic syndrome is a collection of risk factors for heart disease and diabetes, including obesity.) According to the researchers, losing weight around the abdomen and increasing muscle are central to lowering the rate.
Circuit weight training - in which you move from one exercise to the next with little rest in between- is a good way to combine a strength workout with aerobics, because the rapid pace keeps your heart rate up.
Michael O'Shea ia a fellow of the American College of Sprorts Medicine.
