How often should strength training occur per week for general health?

For general health, strength training should occur at least two days per week. This recommendation is based on guidelines from health organizations that emphasize the importance of engaging in muscle-strengthening activities to improve overall body composition, enhance metabolic health, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Strength training twice a week allows individuals to work different muscle groups effectively, promoting muscular balance and reducing the risk of injury. It provides sufficient stimulus for muscle adaptation and development while also enabling recovery time, which is essential for muscle growth and repair. Training more frequently, such as three to four days a week, may benefit those with specific fitness goals, but for general health, two days is adequate to meet the necessary exercise threshold.

Training every day could lead to overtraining and insufficient recovery for the muscles, which can hinder progress and potentially lead to injury. Therefore, the guidance to strength train at least two days a week strikes a balance that is conducive to maintaining good health while allowing for appropriate rest periods.