Strength Training Beats Running
New research suggests strength training may be more powerful than running for preventing type 2 diabetes, based on a mouse study. The findings support a balanced fitness approach that prioritizes resistance training alongside cardio work.
The study, published in the *Journal of Sport and Health Science* in October 2025, was conducted by researchers at Virginia Tech. They designed a novel experiment to directly compare the effects of endurance versus resistance training on mice fed a high-fat diet. This preclinical trial is considered a first-of-its-kind for its unique mouse model of weightlifting. To simulate resistance training, scientists created a system where mice had to lift a weighted lid to access their food, mimicking a squat-like motion. The endurance group of mice had free access to a running wheel. A control group of mice remained sedentary. After eight weeks, both the running and weight-training mice showed improvements over the sedentary group, including reduced abdominal and under-the-skin fat. However, the weightlifting mice demonstrated superior results in several key metabolic areas. Specifically, the resistance-trained mice had greater improvements in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. One report noted that resistance training almost completely mitigated the impaired glucose tolerance from the high-fat diet, while running only offered partial improvement. Researchers also observed molecular changes in the skeletal muscle of the weightlifting mice that may explain the enhanced benefits. These shifts in insulin signaling pathways could potentially guide the development of new drug therapies for managing type 2 diabetes. Senior study author Zhen Yan, from Virginia Tech's Center for Exercise Medicine Research, noted that the findings are good news for those who cannot engage in endurance exercise. The study reinforces the idea that a combination of both endurance and resistance training is ideal for overall health benefits.
