HHP-6 Impact of Weightlifting on Overall Health
Abstract
Weightlifting is widely known to have effects on body tone and ability to lose weight. Our study researched the effects of weightlifting on other physiological factors including a person's sleep quality, heart health, and overall well-being. A survey was sent out to seven members of the women’s softball team, five members of the women’s soccer team, ten members of the men’s soccer team, twelve females who do not engage in athletics, and six males who do not play a sport. Practice times and mandatory weightlifting sessions were noted when comparing the athletes and non-athletes throughout this study. The survey included a range of questions regarding weight, caffeine intake, sleep quality and amount, resting heart rate, skin type, and meals consumed per day. Findings showed that the female athletes averaged about 6.5 to 8 hours of sleep per night as well as experiencing one or fewer disruptions. Additionally, male athletes reported 6.5 to 7 hours of sleep per night with zero sleep disruptions. However, non-athletic females and males, on average, reported sleeping less than 6.5 hours each night. The resting heart rate of both athletic females and males averaged between 51-90 beats per minute whereas non-athletic females and males reported 71-91+ beats per minute. Although these results only include two factors examined throughout the study, several other factors were examined and the outcomes reported. Upon analyzing the research, it is evident that weightlifting has several beneficial effects on an individual's health, for it has been shown that it can improve sleep quality and duration, as well as resting heart rate, and overall well-being.
Keywords
Weightlifting Sleep Heart Health
HHP-6 Impact of Weightlifting on Overall Health
University Readiness Center Greatroom
Weightlifting is widely known to have effects on body tone and ability to lose weight. Our study researched the effects of weightlifting on other physiological factors including a person's sleep quality, heart health, and overall well-being. A survey was sent out to seven members of the women’s softball team, five members of the women’s soccer team, ten members of the men’s soccer team, twelve females who do not engage in athletics, and six males who do not play a sport. Practice times and mandatory weightlifting sessions were noted when comparing the athletes and non-athletes throughout this study. The survey included a range of questions regarding weight, caffeine intake, sleep quality and amount, resting heart rate, skin type, and meals consumed per day. Findings showed that the female athletes averaged about 6.5 to 8 hours of sleep per night as well as experiencing one or fewer disruptions. Additionally, male athletes reported 6.5 to 7 hours of sleep per night with zero sleep disruptions. However, non-athletic females and males, on average, reported sleeping less than 6.5 hours each night. The resting heart rate of both athletic females and males averaged between 51-90 beats per minute whereas non-athletic females and males reported 71-91+ beats per minute. Although these results only include two factors examined throughout the study, several other factors were examined and the outcomes reported. Upon analyzing the research, it is evident that weightlifting has several beneficial effects on an individual's health, for it has been shown that it can improve sleep quality and duration, as well as resting heart rate, and overall well-being.