Lifting Weights Wards Against Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic Syndrome is a cluster of risk factors including central obesity, hypertension, and adverse glucose and insulin metabolism that is linked to increased rates risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Peter M. Magyari, from University of North Florida (Florida, USA), and colleagues analyzed data from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), an ongoing, nationally representative study of health risk factors. In the survey, respondents were simply asked whether they lifted weights; the responses were analyzed for association with the presence of metabolic syndrome. Of 5,618 U.S. adults who had fasting blood samples for analysis, 8.8% answered yes to the question about lifting weights. Lifting weights was about twice as common in men than women: 11.2 versus 6.3%. It was also more common among younger people—lifting weights became less frequent for people aged 50 years and older.  The investigators observed that Metabolic Syndrome was far less prevalent among people who reported lifting weights: 24.6%, compared to 37.3% n those who did not lift weights.  The study authors urge for the: “[strong encouragement of] the activity of [lifting weights] among adults of all ages to promote metabolic health.”