"The more muscle we have, the longer we live"—this trainer explains how strength training is the key to longevity and where to start

Woman sitting on weight bench in front of rack of dumbbells in gym. She is resting dumbbells on her knees. .

You may not know this, but scientific research has established a strong link between muscle mass and longevity. For instance, a 2014 study in The American Journal of Medicine indicates that the more muscle we have, the higher our chances are of living longer. A more recent study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research identified a correlation between muscle weakness (by testing grip strength) and earlier all-cause mortality. So, should we all be hitting the gym to live longer?

Yes, says personal trainer Emma Simarro. Simarro believes that we all should focus on building muscle and getting strong to increase the likelihood of living independently for longer.