• Resistance exercise (RE) is an important physical activity modality conferring major health benefits that are partially complementary to benefits from endurance exercise. • Recent meta-analyses reveal a U-shaped relationship between RE volumes and mortality, with optimal benefits achieved at about 60 min of RE per week. • The mechanisms for potential adverse effects at higher RE volumes are unknown and may be due to hitherto undefined confounders and/or specific individual vulnerabilities. • Wearable technologies and advanced data analysis methods provide exciting tools to explore such risk factors. • Presently, there is no convincing reason for healthy individuals to reduce their RE activities.