The effect of poor muscular fitness in young men is similar to well established risk factors for early death, such as obesity and high blood pressure, researchers say.
Swedish experts, who tracked more than a million teenage boys for 24 years, found those with low muscle strength, weaker leg, arm muscles and a limp grip - are at increased risk of early death.
Researchers behind the British Medical Journal (BMJ) study believe muscle strength reflects general fitness, which would explain the link, the 'BBC News' reported.
Experts stress the findings do not mean muscle building makes you live longer, however, the link between early death and muscle power remained in the study.
During the study, thin and fat men alike fared worse in terms of life expectancy if they had weaker than average muscles, while more burly men had better survival odds even if they were overweight.
As many as 26,145 (2.3 per cent) of the men died over the course of the study. The leading single cause of death was accidental injury, followed by suicide, cancer, heart disease and stroke.
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The teenagers who scored above average on muscular strength at the start of the study had a 20-35 per cent lower risk of early death from any cause and also from cardiovascular diseases, the report said.
They also had a 20-30 per cent lower risk of early death from suicide and were up to 65 per cent less likely to have any psychiatric diagnosis, such as schizophrenia or depression.
In comparison, the 16 to 19-year-olds with the lowest level of muscular strength had the highest risk of dying before they reached their mid-50s.
The teenagers, who were all conscripts to the Swedish military, were asked to grip and to do some leg curls and arm push ups against resistance to measure muscle strength.
"The benefits of being physically active at any age are well established with studies showing it can prevent children from developing diseases later on in life, as well as improving their concentration at school, their overall mental health and well-being," a British Heart Foundation spokesperson said.