Metabolic Syndrome Reduced By Less Than 1 Hour of Resistance Exercise
Less than 1 hour per week of resistance exercise is associated with a 29% lower risk for developing metabolic syndrome, according to the results of a recent study.
The study cohort included 7418 adults with a mean age of 46 years who had received comprehensive medical examinations between January 1, 1987, and December 31, 2006, at a clinic in Texas.
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Participants self-reported the frequency and minutes per week spent performing resistance and aerobic exercises. These responses were later assessed in relation to the US Physical Activity Guidelines for resistance and aerobic exercise, which recommends 2 or more d per w of resistance exercise and 500 or more metabolic equivalent m per w of aerobic exercise. Incidence of metabolic syndrome was identified using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria.
During the median 4 years of follow-up, 1147 participants (15%) had developed metabolic syndrome.
Participants who had met the resistance exercise guidelines had a 17% lower risk of developing metabolic syndrome after the researchers adjusted for aerobic exercise and other potential confounders. In addition, participants who performed less than 1 hour of weekly resistance exercise had a 29% lower risk of developing metabolic syndrome compared with those who did not engage in resistance exercise.
Also, participants who met both the weekly recommendations had a 25% lower risk of developing metabolic syndrome compared with participants who did not meet either recommendation. Furthermore, longer and more frequent resistance exercise was not associated with any additional reductions in metabolic syndrome risk.
“Participating in resistance exercise, even less than 1 hour per week, was associated with a lower risk of development of [metabolic syndrome], independent of aerobic exercise,” the researchers concluded. “Health professionals should recommend that patients perform resistance exercise along with aerobic exercise to reduce [metabolic syndrome].”
—Melissa Weiss
Reference:
Bakker EA, Lee D-C, Sui X, et al. Association of resistance exercise, independent of and combined with aerobic exercise, with the incidence of metabolic syndrome [published online June 14, 2017]. Mayo Clin Proc. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.02.018.