Why don’t more older women lift weights?

Older women (and men) are at risk of falling down. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among older adults. Death rates from falls are increasing, particularly among those aged 75+. Lots of reasons are cited, including medications, snow and ice, or poor vision, among other causes. At the end of one such article, experts noted that ‘staying active’ would help protect against fall risk. Whatever that meant.

It’s a conundrum – studies show the benefit of strength training for older women.  Books have been written that prove the benefits – like Miriam Nelson’s Strong Women Stay Young – which made an enormous impression on me. And this is despite the much studied benefits for the oldest old, and another study about the possibility of gaining muscle from lifting weights up to age 96!

Note the effect of doing low-intensity resistance training versus heavier weights. This study from UCLA concluded that the high-intensity approach (heavier weight , lifting weight rapidly) is what stimulates bone building cells.  And loss of strength in the legs is a contributing factor to poor balance – and thus the risk of falls.

And yet older women are unconvinced. As we enter our later years, we think about lots of things to do that we enjoy, but for older women, strength training isn’t one of them. According to detailed a scan by ChatGPT, it appears that only 1 in 10 women do strength training at age 75+ in 2025 (ChatGPT estimate from 2024 data).  See for yourself. Go into a gym and take a look at the weight-lifting section.  A few young women, but mostly young men.  Virtually no older women (age 75+) – and that is across a variety of strength training equipment.  Watch the exercise program in a senior living community – where is the effort to substantially improve strength in senior living communities among the oldest?  Please advise if you see otherwise (laurie@ageinplacetech.com).