The prevalence of chronic health disease in a resistance trained Australian population

Introduction: A profusion of muscle strengthening research and targeted randomized controlled trials report the many health benefits from resistance training for both healthy and at risk populations. Endorsed physical activity recommendations also explicitly state that Australian adults should initiate and maintain engagement in muscle strengthening activities in conjunction with aerobic, flexibility and neuromotor activities to encourage healthy lifestyles in the absence of chronic health disease. The primary objective of this research was to highlight the strength of association between self-reported resistance training and selected diseases in randomly selected adults living in Central Queensland, Australia.Methodology: A Computer-Assisted-Telephone-Interview (CATI) survey conducted by the Population Research Laboratory at CQUniversity performed a survey of 1289 Central Queensland adults (male = 635, female 654) in October–November 2010. Respondents were asked to report on questions including age, gender, stature, mass, and health status along with questions relating to resistance training participation, knowledge and training levels. The strength of association between variables was determined using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.Participants: Respondents were 18 years of age or older that could be contacted by direct-dialed, land-based telephone service. A telephone database using a computer program to select, with replacement, a simple random sample of phone numbers selected respondents.Results: Only 13% of the respondents reported that they were currently participating in muscle strengthening activities. Significantly more males performed resistance training than females (p < 0.05).Young resistance training respondents (18–24 yrs) reported the prevalence of no chronic disease as 67%, (25–34 yrs) 47%, (35–44 yrs) 37%, (45–54 yrs) 24%, (55–64 yrs) 14% and 65 years and over only 6%. Resistance training activity was associated with a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in prevalence of heart disease (OR: 1.89, 1.23–2.90), arthritis (OR: 1.65, 1.23–2.20), abnormal blood pressure (OR: 1.92, 1.48–2.50), elevated cholesterol (OR: 1.58, 1.18–2.11), and an increased prevalence of reporting no known disease condition (OR: 0.71, 0.57–0.89).Conclusions: The present data suggests that performing resistance training activities is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, arthritis, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and an increased likelihood of an absence of a chronic health condition. The present data also confirms a lack of prevalence of Australian's participating in regular muscle strengthening activity programs to gain health benefits. These findings suggest the need to increase overall education on the health benefits and absence of chronic health disease resulting from a lifestyle change that includes regular resistance training.