Weightlifting Lowers Heart Disease and Diabetes Risks
People with three out of five risk factors—a large waist (more than 40 inches for men, more than 35 inches for women), high triglycerides and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar—may be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.
The researchers also analyzed data from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which showed that young men were most likely to do regular weightlifting, while women, older people and Latinos were least likely. The survey statistics support the conclusion that non-weightlifters are more likely to exhibit metabolic syndrome.