According to the first study conducted by the American Heart Association and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, women who engage in weightlifting—especially when combined with aerobics—have a lower likelihood of developing heart disease.

The research team conducted the study on a sample of more than 117,000 women as part of a long-term health study. It concluded that the risk of heart attacks decreased by 44%, while the overall risk of cardiovascular disease decreased by 20% among women who practiced weight training for two hours per week.

In another scientific study published in Jama Network Open, it was found that strength training in middle age reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by 42%.

A joint team from several American, Chinese, and Korean universities followed the health status of more than 143,000 adults in the United States over 19 years. They found that people who engage in resistance training—physical activities that force muscles to contract against external resistance—help significantly reduce the rate of type 2 diabetes by 27%.

The study also showed that the greatest benefit is seen in those who continue strength training in midlife, where the risk of diabetes decreases by 42% in this group.