31/10/2026
The benefit of lifting weights stops growing after about two hours a week.
90 to 119 minutes a week went with 13% lower risk of death from any cause. Above 120 minutes, there was no extra benefit.
Researchers followed 147,374 nurses and other health workers for up to 30 years and recorded 35,798 deaths. The same amount of lifting also went with 19% lower risk of death from heart disease.
People who did plenty of cardio and also lifted did best of all, with about 45% lower risk than people who did little of either.
This study shows a link, not proof. People who lift may also have other healthy habits.
What this means for you: you do not need to live in the gym. About two hours of strength training a week, on top of regular cardio, covers most of the benefit.