Women are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis than men, especially after menopause. As a matter of fact, women are two times more likely to fracture or break a bone because of osteoporosis than men. Some also wonder, ‘do gender and weight cause osteoporosis?’.
Women who get bone density tests are very likely to get results that say they are at a moderate or high risk of developing osteoporosis. The good news is, lifting weights can not only improve bone density but also lower the risk of osteoporosis in women. Indeed, muscle/weight training can increase bone density and reduce your risk of getting osteoporosis drastically.
Losing bone density is a natural part of aging, but weight lifting can, in fact, reverse this process. Bones also weigh a certain amount, and as you get stronger with weight training, your bones, in turn, keep getting stronger as well. Many studies have confirmed that lifting weights can increase bone density.
A multitude of studies that have been conducted about the correlation between women’s increased risk of osteoporosis and weightlifting point to the fact that the more you use your musculoskeletal system, the lower your risk of getting osteoporosis.
One major concern is that with all the diet and cleansing fads, women have been trying out and following significantly unhealthy diets that have in fact been detrimental to their bodies and overall health, increasing their risk of osteoporosis.
However, it is possible to lower your risk of bone diseases, including osteoporosis, with a full-fledged weight training regimen that challenges, and by extension strengthens, your muscles and bones. A healthy diet to supplement your vigorous strength-training regimen is also important as a nutritious, balanced diet rich in calcium, protein, and vitamin D is essential for optimal bone health.
With necessary lifestyle modifications, women can keep osteoporosis at bay, and a healthy diet combined with a strict, challenging strength-training program is an ideal way to increase bone density and strength.
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