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The rise of female weightlifting and how it is changing lives

More women are reaping the benefits of weightlifting and say they feel empowered to step into the weights area in the gym.

Weight training has been proven to have a variety of benefits for women's health and new research shows it can help support women as they enter the menopause.

Academics have said a surge in fitness influencers across social media platforms has played a pivotal role in terms of encouraging women to engage in resistance training.

Video Journalist: Dawn Limbu

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25 April 2024

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A woman in a wheelchair. She is wearing a black jumper and a white and black skirt.

The women who are asked 'how do you have sex?'

Rachel Reeves

Watch: Reeves 'deeply proud' to be first female chancellor

Three women sitting on grass looking at coursework together. They are near a sign that says Dundee.

Afghan women describe joy at resuming medical dreams in Scotland

Tayside & Central Scotland

The word menopause on a lightbox surrounded by pills

Doctor answers your menopause questions

Gemma Dunstan at BBC Cardiff Central square on a balcony in front of a tv control room. she has long dark hair and is wearing a loose grey top

How do police forces catch misbehaving officers?

An independent review found that Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre had not put survivors first.

Rape Crisis Scotland boss apologises to rape survivors over support centre failings

Edinburgh, Fife & East

Gemma Doherty, wearing a kilt and blue t-shirt lifts two large stones on chains.

Stone-lifting mum is not your typical strong woman

Catriona Aitken - who has glasses and tied-back brown hair and is wearing a black floral dress - sat on an orange sofa, with the colourful panels of the BBC Wales office behind her

What is chemical menopause?

Tinessa Kaur in her barrister robes

Sikh woman becomes first to win barrister award

Victoria Atkins

The NHS was created by men for men, says health secretary

Molly Fenton, founder of Love Your Period

Women told alternative treatments could risk health

Actress Ashley Judd

Ashley Judd: 'It's a hard day' for Weinstein survivors

SheUltra medal

Hundreds to join 'empowering' women's ultra run

Reality TV star Vicky Pattison standing in her kitchen

Reality TV star Vicky Pattison: Why I'd donate my frozen eggs

Baroness Casey

Lords hears list of women killed this year

Jess Phillips

MP reads out list of women killed by men in past year

For the first time in history, women and girls took part in the main Viking squad.

Viking galley burns at fiery peak of Up Helly Aa

Cindy Mothogaathobogwe holding a long pole on a canoe

Botswana’s female polers changing stereotypes

woman running at night

Woman says running is 'tainted' by catcalling men

Emma Artis

My violent ex-partner moved in two streets away

Riley Tolliver being arrested

Watch: Moment men are arrested after fatal stabbing

Avon and Somerset Police release footage of when Antony Snook and Riley Tolliver are arrested.

Timothy West. He is pictured looking up and away from the camera.

Late actor had strong connections to West Country

Timothy West went to school in Bristol and was a huge enthusiast of the Kennet and Avon Canal.

Luna pictured in her buzz lightyear suit. She is looking directly at the cameral and is also wearing a red lanyard around her neck.

Buzz Lightyear fan raises £1k for food bank

Luna, 11, walks across part of the city dressed in costume to raise funds for the "amazing" charity.

Bristol Rovers player launches mental health walk

Footballer Taylor Moore invites people to join his new mental health initiative called '5K your way'.

A singer singing into a microphone wearing a glittery headpiece which covers their face.

'I don't want my face as part of my music process'

A rapper, who only started writing music during lockdown, is releasing her first album.

A woman doing acrobatics above a toy horse

'We turned city's empty spaces into playgrounds'

The Invisible Circus looks back at two decades of performances in the city it has fallen in love with.

Henry performing a BMX stunt

BMX rider, 8, could soon be crowned world champion

Henry could soon be a world champion after winning ten out of ten of his races.

The Bristol Brabazon

The luxury plane that took flight 75 years ago

The Bristol Brabazon laid the foundation for the development of Concorde.

A man proposes to his partner while Joe Sims interviews them for BBC Radio Bristol

Couple get engaged at Bristol Balloon Fiesta

"She said yes!"

Hot air balloons light up their burners in the dark at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta

Night glow lights up dark skies at balloon fiesta

The after-dark event, watched by thousands, sees burners on balloons go off in time to music.

A man stands against a green door shutter. He is wearing a dark jacket and red cap

'Bristolians will not allow chaos'

Thousands of people are in the city for an anti-racism demonstration.

A woman in a blue top looks at the camera as she sits in her kitchen

'I'm just glad everybody's safe'

Philippa Swatton was caught up in the disorder in Bristol city centre.

Dan Johnson

Route taken by man who dumped bodies on Bristol bridge

The remains of two adult males were found in suitcases left on the Clifton Suspension Bridge on Wednesday, police say.

Darren Hicks, the school's assistant headteacher

'Play day is about children being free'

Pupils at a school in Bristol have been enjoying their annual play day.

Bristol singing choir

'I'm a sea of emotions when I sing with others'

Researchers and 400 volunteers are experimenting to see if singing can improve people's wellbeing.

Pupils celebrate winning award

School delighted to be named in world top 10 list

Venturers' Academy in Bristol has been honoured for its work in overcoming adversity.

The tree covered in webbing

Why is there mysterious webbing on trees in a park?

The webbing can be found on trees in St George's park in Bristol.

Flowers in a polytunnel

The city flower farm that is changing lives

Heart of BS13 Flowers is a social enterprise based at Hartcliffe City Farm in Bristol.

Mr Justice Saini

'A plague of knife crime' - Judge jails teenager

Shane Cunningham is jailed for life after stabbing Mikey Roynon to death with a zombie knife.

Upfest Bus

City bus transformed by street artist

A street art festival teams up with a bus company to create the unique, colourful vehicle.