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Weightlifting or weight lifting generally refers to Exercise and in which people lift weights, often in the form of , or machines. People engage in weightlifting for a variety of different reasons. These can include: developing physical strength; promoting Physical fitness; competing in weightlifting sports; and developing a muscular and aesthetic physique.See Brian J. Sharkey, Steven E. Gaskill, Fitness and Health (2007), p. 142, "Weightlifting with machines or free weights is the common form of isotonic training".
Olympic weightlifting is a specific type of weightlifting sport practiced at the Olympic Games, commonly referred to simply as "weightlifting". Other weightlifting sports include stone lifting, powerlifting, kettlebell lifting, and para powerlifting—the weightlifting sport practiced at the Paralympic Games. Different weightlifting sports may be distinguished by the different ways of lifting a weight, and/or the objects lifted. Weightlifting events are key elements of strength athletics.
Weight training is weightlifting to develop physical strength and/or a muscular physique. It is a common part of strength conditioning for athletes in many sports. When the primary goal is to develop an all-round muscular physique, this is bodybuilding. People who train with weights utilize both free weights (such as barbells, dumbbells, and ) and to train all parts of their bodies. A place and equipment for weight training is provided at Health club and .
According to an article in The New York Times, lifting weights can prevent some disabilities, increase metabolism, and lower body fat. Using free weights, compared to machines, improves not only strength but muscle function as well, in high-functioning older adults.Schott, N., Johnen, B., & Holfelder, B. (2019). Effects of free weights and machine training on muscular strength in high-functioning older adults. Experimental Gerontology, 122, 15-24. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2019.03.012.
When in 1896 the modern international Olympic Games began, weight lifting was an event at the first Games; and since 1920 weightlifting has been a regular part of the Olympics. By 1932 the Olympic competition comprised three lifts, all of which are different ways of lifting a weighted barbell from ground to overhead: namely the snatch, the clean and jerk, and the clean and press. The snatch is a wide-grip lift, in which the barbell is lifted overhead in one motion. The clean and jerk and the clean and press are combination lifts in which the weight is first taken from the ground to the front of the shoulders (the clean), and then from the shoulders to overhead (the first using a jerk, the second an overhead press). After 1972 the clean and press was discontinued because of difficulties in judging proper form. (2025). 9780982522738, The Aasgaard Company. ISBN 9780982522738 Today, the snatch and the clean and jerk are together known as the "olympic lifts"; and the sport of weightlifting as practiced at the Olympics can be called "olympic weightlifting" or "olympic-style weightlifting" to distinguish it from other weightlifting sports (wherever it is practiced). Its international governing body is the International Weightlifting Federation, which was founded in 1905.
The 1950s and 1960s saw the sport of powerlifting developing, originating in competitions where athletes competed in different lifting events to those at the Olympics. These different lifts were sometimes called "odd lifts". Previously, the weightlifting governing bodies in the United Kingdom and the United States had recognized various "odd lifts" for competition and record purposes. Eventually these competitions became standardized to three specific lifts: the squat, bench press, and deadlift; and this form of weightlifting sport was given its distinct name of powerlifting, with the International Powerlifting Federation being formed in 1972 to regulate and promote the sport.
In 1964 weightlifting debuted in the Paralympic Games, in the form of the bench press; and since the 1992 Games has been called powerlfiting, specifically Para powerlifting or Paralympic powerlifting.
Weightlifting purely to develop physical strength can lead to the development of a very different body type than weightlifting for bodybuilding, with powerlifters and Olympic weightlifters tending to have endo-mesomorphic bodies, and bodybuilders tending to be more mesomorphic.P. Bale, and H. Williams, "An anthropometric prototype of female power lifters", Joumal of Sports Medicine, 27 (1987), 191-196. The two main methods of weight lifting to build strength and muscle mass are hypertrophy and overload. Training for muscle size is usually done by achieving hypertrophy which is training with a lighter weight at higher volume or more repetitions. Muscle size increases due to metabolic fibers that result in visible muscle mass growth. Training muscles to build strength is typically achieved by the overload method. Overload involves training with increasing weight at each set. It can also mean increasing volume of repetitions at the same weight for each set. Both overload methods are optimal for building muscle mass and strength, however, lifting heavy weights at a lower volume or less repetitions is very optimal for building strength.
It has historically been observed that weightlifting both for health and for appearance is substantially more common among men than among women. A primary reason for this dichotomy has been a desire among women to avoid developing an appearance that is perceived as physically masculine, with a consequent focus on aerobic exercises over weightlifting activities.Shari L. Dworkin, "'Holding back': Negotiating a glass ceiling on women's muscular strength", Sociological Perspectives, Vol. 44, No. 3 (2001), p. 333-5. Another factor that has been suggested is that women who are interested in lifting weights tend to be uncomfortable in spaces dominated by men, which has been observed to cause women who do want to lift weights to take weights from the weight room to another part of the gym to work out, therefore using smaller weights and for shorter times. The prevalence of males in weightlifting is reinforced by marketing that depicts weightlifting as a primarily male activity. In recent times however, the practice of bodybuilding has become more feminized. Some gyms have reported that the female percentage of their clientele has risen to over 50%. A new common trend among women is the replacement of cardio regimes with weightlifting for several reasons such as pursuing their idea of a perfect body, female empowerment, and plain enjoyment.
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