What does weight training primarily involve?

Weight training primarily involves lifting weights, such as dumbbells or barbells, to increase muscle strength and size. This form of exercise specifically targets the muscles through resistance, which can be adjusted by adding or decreasing the weight load. As muscles work against this resistance, they undergo micro-tears that, upon healing, lead to increased muscle strength and hypertrophy.

In contrast to static stretching, which focuses on improving flexibility and range of motion without resistance, or endurance running, which primarily enhances cardiovascular fitness rather than building muscle strength, weight training is specifically designed to promote strength gains. Bodyweight exercises, while effective for building strength and endurance using the individual's own weight, do not exclusively involve external weights like dumbbells or barbells, which is the hallmark of traditional weight training. Thus, lifting dumbbells or barbells is the defining characteristic of weight training.