Science Daily: 1st November 2017

Push ups and sit ups could add years to your life according to a new study of over 80,000 adults led by the University of Sydney.

The largest study to compare the mortality outcomes of different types of exercise found people who did strength-based exercise had a 23 percent reduction in risk of premature death by any means, and a 31 percent reduction in cancer-related death.

Lead author Associate Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis from the School of Public Health and the Charles Perkins Centre said while strength training has been given some attention for functional benefits as we age, little research has looked at its impact on mortality.

"The study shows exercise that promotes muscular strength may be just as important for health as aerobic activities like jogging or cycling," said Associate Professor Stamatakis.

"Assuming our findings reflect cause and effect relationships, it may be even more vital when it comes to reducing risk of death from cancer."

The World Health Organization's Physical Activity Guidelines for adults recommend 150 minutes of aerobic activity, plus two days of muscle strengthening activities each week.

Associate Professor Stamatakis said governments and public health authorities have neglected to promote strength-based guidelines in the community, and as such misrepresented how active we are as a nation.

Find out more this strength-based exercise research from the University of Sydney.