Osteoporosis or decreased bone density is a significant health problem in women and some men. Bone density, which decreases with age, is affected by bone loading, nutrition, and hormone status. Weight training is widely used as a method of preserving or increasing bone density.
A study from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles found that bone density in the hip and spine increased by 2.7-7.7 percent in men, but did not change in women, following a 24-week weight training program that included squats and deadlifts. Weight training increases bone density more in men than women. (Journal Strength Conditioning Research 25: 1098-1103)
