One of the most important scientific papers I’ve read in 2026 was published this month in the journal Clinics and Practice. The paper, titled Exploring the Role of Resistance Training in the Prevention and Management of Chronic Conditions: A Narrative Review, summarizes the current state of scientific research on the role of strength training in preventing and managing chronic disease.
Our motivation to strength train may come from the pursuit of bigger biceps, rounder glutes, or improved athletic performance. But at the end of the day, we are wise to recognize a more important benefit: strength training can help counteract chronic diseases and their associated health conditions.
Here are six areas in which resistance training can make a meaningful difference, according to the paper:
Type 2 diabetes: Resistance training can help prevent type 2 diabetes, and the evidence clearly shows it improves blood sugar control.
Obesity: For overweight or obese individuals, resistance training helps reduce body fat, including the fat stored deep in the abdomen, as well as overall body weight and body mass index.
Hypertension: Resistance training is a suitable option for adults and older adults with elevated or high blood pressure, both to prevent and to manage it.
Cardiovascular disease: Resistance training helps prevent heart disease and plays a role in managing it. For people with coronary artery disease, cardiorespiratory fitness can predict how long a person will live. Heart rehab has traditionally focused on aerobic exercise, but adding resistance training can lead to better outcomes.
High cholesterol: Resistance training may help treat unhealthy cholesterol levels. In postmenopausal women who started with elevated levels, a meta-analysis found that it lowered both total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels.
Osteoporosis: Resistance training provides important functional benefits and makes everyday tasks easier, such as sitting down and standing up independently. It’s important to note that the evidence does not suggest resistance training can completely reverse osteoporosis.
The author provides a succinct take-home message: “The evidence presented here demonstrates that resistance training has a role in the prevention and treatment of several prevalent chronic conditions, and it is a tool that could be utilized more to support people living with chronic conditions.”
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