WASHINGTON — A groundbreaking new study published in the prestigious Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) reveals compelling evidence that resistance training, commonly referred to as strength training, significantly reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events among women, particularly when paired with regular aerobic exercise. This research reshapes our understanding of how different types of physical activity collectively influence heart health and emphasizes the necessity of incorporating weightlifting into comprehensive cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention strategies for women.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality globally, claiming millions of lives each year. Traditional preventive efforts have primarily highlighted aerobic exercise forms such as brisk walking, jogging, cycling, and swimming for their well-documented cardiovascular benefits. Resistance training, despite its known positive impacts on musculoskeletal health, muscle strength, and metabolic functions, has been comparatively underexplored in the context of CVD risk reduction. This study bridges that gap, underscoring resistance training’s unique and additive role in mitigating the risk of heart attacks and other major cardiovascular complications.
The research team, led by Dr. Tianyue Zhang of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, employed a robust prospective cohort design analyzing data from over 117,000 women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and NHS II. These cohorts provided an extensive age range, averaging 66.8 years in NHS and 48.1 years in NHS II at baseline, allowing the exploration of resistance training’s effects across middle-aged and older female populations — groups often at heightened risk for cardiovascular problems yet inadequately studied for strength training benefits.
Resistance training was meticulously assessed through self-reported metrics collected every four years, including separate evaluation of upper and lower body exercises. Sedentary behavior was primarily measured via the amount of time spent watching television, a known independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The primary outcomes of interest were major cardiovascular events, encompassing nonfatal and fatal myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, coronary artery bypass grafting, and percutaneous coronary intervention, ensuring a comprehensive overview of severe cardiovascular developments.
Findings indicate a pronounced protective effect associated with resistance training, especially in lowering the incidence of myocardial infarction. Women engaging in at least two hours of resistance exercises weekly exhibited a remarkable 20% reduction in the risk of major cardiovascular events and an even more striking 44% decrease in the occurrence of heart attacks compared with those abstaining from resistance training. Moreover, each additional hour increment in weekly resistance training conferred an incremental 5% reduction in overall CVD risk and a 14% lower chance of myocardial infarction.
Interestingly, these associations persisted even after adjusting for obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors—including hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia—though the magnitude of effect was somewhat tempered. This observation suggests that resistance training benefits extend beyond weight control and conventional metabolic risk modulation, implicating additional physiological mechanisms such as improved vascular function, enhanced insulin sensitivity, and reductions in systemic inflammation.
Furthermore, the synergistic benefits of combining resistance training with aerobic activity were compelling. Among women who met the recommended 150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise, concurrent engagement in two or more hours of resistance training per week resulted in a striking 45% lower risk of myocardial infarction compared to inactive individuals. The integrative analysis accounting for resistance training, aerobic exercise, and sedentary behavior revealed that women adhering to all three lifestyle recommendations experienced the lowest cardiovascular risk profiles, reinforcing the critical importance of a holistic active lifestyle.
This multifaceted approach to physical activity—targeting varied movement types and minimizing prolonged sedentary time—highlights a paradigm shift in cardiovascular medicine. While aerobic exercise remains foundational, the incorporation of resistance training emerges as an indispensable component to augment cardiovascular resilience, functional capacity, and longevity in women. The data provide substantial evidence that public health guidelines should prioritize strength training alongside aerobic conditioning and sedentary behavior reduction.
However, researchers caution that the reliance on self-reported resistance training introduces potential biases, such as inflated or inaccurate recording. Additionally, the study population predominantly consisted of white, middle-class female nurses, which may limit generalizability across diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Another challenge remains the inability to disentangle the effects of specific types of resistance training modalities from total resistance training volume, warranting further exploration into which exercise forms confer optimal cardiovascular benefits.
Despite these limitations, the strength of the large, well-characterized cohorts and longitudinal design lends significant credibility to the findings. Harlan M. Krumholz, Editor-in-Chief of JACC, endorsed the research’s implications, stating, “We have long encouraged resistance training, and this study provides strong evidence to reinforce that message. Incorporating resistance training into health routines supports both functional independence and cardiovascular longevity.”
In a clinical landscape where cardiovascular disease prevention commands urgent attention, these findings advocate a transformative shift in exercise prescription for women. Importantly, they recognize resistance training not only as an adjunct to aerobic exercise but as a vital, independent pillar of cardiovascular health promotion. This comprehensive strategy, blending strength with endurance and sedentary behavior reduction, promises to enhance heart health outcomes for millions of women globally.
As further research continues to clarify optimal resistance training regimens tailored to different populations, the current evidence encourages healthcare providers and patients alike to embrace strength training as an essential weapon against cardiovascular disease. Empowering women to include lifting weights into their weekly routines may dramatically decrease heart attack incidences, improve quality of life, and extend years of healthy living. This new paradigm invites a broader societal movement to transform cardiovascular health through diverse, integrative physical activity patterns.
For more detailed information on the study titled “Resistance Training, Aerobic Activity, Television Viewing, and Risk of Major Cardiovascular Events in U.S. Women,” interested parties are encouraged to contact Olivia Walther, Media Relations Manager at the American College of Cardiology.
Subject of Research: People
Article Title: Resistance Training, Aerobic Activity, Television Viewing, and Risk of Major Cardiovascular Events in U.S. Women
News Publication Date: 17-Jun-2026
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Keywords: Physical exercise, Cardiovascular disorders, Myocardial infarction, Cardiology, Cardiovascular disease, Heart disease, Human health, Health care, Health care policy
