The Importance of Strength Training

A recent newspaper article entitled "Aussie Children shaping up for higher risk of heart disease and diabetes" (The Sunday Age, 29/2/09) indicates that the proportion of fat in children's total body composition has risen 1% per decade since the 1950's. This figure in itself is alarming.

But what is more interesting in this article is that being lean can also be unhealthy.

What?

Yes, being lean in itself can set a child (or an adult for that matter) up for many health problems in the future.

How you ask?

This article states that thinness without muscle mass can cause problems later in life. Those activities that build muscle mass (such as body weight exercises, running, jumping, pushing, lifting and pulling) can lead to less bone development early in life and potentially osteoporosis later in life. Especially in the female population.

Furthermore, muscle is the most metabolically active tissue in the body. So if muscle mass isn't developed, you are not burning all the calories you can be. And when it comes time for you body's metabolism to naturally slow (generally around late 20's onwards), you are going to gradually lay down more and more fat as your body just doesn't have the most effective tool to burn your energy intake.

So, continue with your cardio exercise programs (walking, running, etc) but add some muscle building activities (weight training, bodyweight strength training, etc).

If you don't know where to start, talk to your local personal trainer or fitness staff at a local gym.

And ladies - NO, you will not bulk up and look like a body builder. Find out why you won't bulk up, and more importantly, why it is essetial for females to undertake strength training at "Ladies-Do Weights".