13 Strength-Training Benefits After 50 (Expert Opinion)

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While scrolling through YouTube, I found this video that specifically talks about the benefits of strength training after the age of 50. The man who’s talking here is Ken D. Berry, he’s a Board Certified Family Physician and Fellow in The American Academy of Family Physician. In other words, he knows his stuff!

What I like about his approach is that he’s very straightforward in telling people that “you’re not old, you have the body of an athlete”. He also goes on to explain that, no matter how weak, tired and inflamed you may feel right now, your body can bounce back from that, guaranteed. Overall, a very positive approach!

Furthermore, he’s also excellent at explaining that strength training means different things for different people. For some, this means using 1 kg dumbbells to start with, while others will be deadlifting 800 lbs. However, the benefits are all the same.

I think doctor Ken describes it all best and therefore highly recommend watching the video. If you just want to read right now, I summarized the 13 benefits below the video for you!

The 13 Benefits

As Dr. Ken says in his video, there are way more than 13 benefits. However, these are what he considers to be the main ones and decided to make the video about.

1. Strengthened muscles, even those not directly worked out.
2. Stronger bones, helping to combat osteoporosis and osteopenia.
3. Improved sleep quality.
4. Increased insulin sensitivity, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
5. Decreased risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, and improved memory.
6. Reduced chronic back and neck pain.
7. Improved overall quality of life.
8. Increased lifespan and health span.
9. Faster reduction of visceral fat around organs.
10. Decreased risk of falling and breaking bones.
11. Improved heart health.
12. Increased flexibility and joint mobility.
13. Boosted mood, helping to alleviate chronic depression and low moods.