# Why don’t you lift weights? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** diet-weight-loss\ **Created:** [August 15, 2020, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-you-lift-weights/918144 "2020-08-15T01:48:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 288
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2023, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-you-lift-weights/918144/288 "2023-01-28T03:04:37Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Balance is a skill, and important to lessen the risks of falls, especially in elderly populations. Poor balance is strongly associated with mortality risk, from all causes, most not falls. > **[Inability to stand on one leg for 10 seconds linked to doubling in risk of...](https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/inability-to-stand-on-one-leg-for-10-seconds-in-mid-to-later-life-linked-to-near-doubling-in-risk-of-death/)** > > Inability to stand on one leg for 10 seconds linked to a near doubling in risk of death in next 10 years, finds study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. > **[Association of Balance Function With All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality...](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7953337/)** > > Is balance function associated with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among US adults?In this cohort study that followed up 5816 participants for a median of 12.6 years, baseline balance disorder and vestibular balance disorder were associated... From the second article some interesting factoids and speculations… > [@](#): > > As a major risk factor of falls, poor balance is likely to contribute to sedentary lifestyle through fall-related hospitalization and potential long-term immobility.[1](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7953337/#ooi210004r1) Individuals who fear falling may restrict their activity[24](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7953337/#ooi210004r24),[25](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7953337/#ooi210004r25) and increase sedentary time, contributing to increased risks of obesity, CVD, cancer, and diabetes,[26](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7953337/#ooi210004r26) which all increase mortality risk. A recent prospective cohort study analyzed data from 4386 adults aged 50 years or older and found that injurious falls and serious fear of falling, but not falls in the past year, were associated with all-cause mortality during an average follow-up of 7.8 years.[27](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7953337/#ooi210004r27) … > > … In clinical research, balance disorder has been hypothesized as a marker of metabolic disorder.[11](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7953337/#ooi210004r11) … Balance is definitely as much a fitness component as are strength and endurance. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-you-lift-weights/918144)._