Resistance Training is Medicine: Focusing on the Positive Impact on Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES This review aims to synthesize recent domestic and international research on the effects of resistance exercise on metabolic syndrome risk factors. METHODS A systematic search was conducted using Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/Medline, and Embase to identify relevant studies published bet...

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Main Author: Deogjo Jung
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Asian Society of Kinesiology 2025-04-01
Series:The Asian Journal of Kinesiology
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Online Access:http://ajkinesiol.org/upload/pdf/ajk-2025-27-2-36.pdf
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author Deogjo Jung
author_facet Deogjo Jung
author_sort Deogjo Jung
collection DOAJ
description OBJECTIVES This review aims to synthesize recent domestic and international research on the effects of resistance exercise on metabolic syndrome risk factors. METHODS A systematic search was conducted using Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/Medline, and Embase to identify relevant studies published between January 2000 and February 2025. Studies evaluating the effects of resistance exercise on metabolic syndrome risk factors, including resting blood pressure, blood glucose levels, lipid and lipoprotein profiles, body composition, and cardiovascular disease risk factors, were included. Effect sizes were estimated using a random-effects model. RESULTS Resistance exercise demonstrated a smaller effect on resting blood pressure compared to aerobic exercise; however, it provided complementary benefits via distinct vascular and neural mechanisms. No significant differences were observed between resistance and aerobic exercise concerning cardiovascular disease risk factors and safety in patients with type 2 diabetes. Resistance exercise may be a viable alternative for individuals with type 2 diabetes who experience limitations in performing aerobic exercise due to obesity, osteoarthritis, neurological disorders, or vascular disease. Additionally, resistance exercise positively influenced lipid profiles and improved body composition by reducing body fat percentage and increasing lean muscle mass. CONCLUSIONS Resistance exercise is an effective intervention for enhancing muscle strength, improving muscular function, reducing body fat percentage, increasing basal metabolic rate, and enhancing bone density, thereby mitigating the risk of sarcopenia. Furthermore, it contributes to the improvement of key metabolic syndrome risk factors, including blood pressure, blood glucose levels, obesity, and lipid profiles, ultimately reducing morbidity and mortality. Given its broad physiological and clinical benefits, resistance exercise is recommended as an essential non-pharmacological strategy in health promotion, disease prevention, and rehabilitation.
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spelling doaj-art-0ed77b367fd842a3bc6883f838ec91a72025-08-20T03:07:58ZengAsian Society of KinesiologyThe Asian Journal of Kinesiology2586-55952586-55522025-04-01272364210.15758/ajk.2025.27.2.36640Resistance Training is Medicine: Focusing on the Positive Impact on Metabolic Syndrome Risk FactorsDeogjo Jung0 Department of Physical Education, Seowon University, Cheongju, Republic of KoreaOBJECTIVES This review aims to synthesize recent domestic and international research on the effects of resistance exercise on metabolic syndrome risk factors. METHODS A systematic search was conducted using Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/Medline, and Embase to identify relevant studies published between January 2000 and February 2025. Studies evaluating the effects of resistance exercise on metabolic syndrome risk factors, including resting blood pressure, blood glucose levels, lipid and lipoprotein profiles, body composition, and cardiovascular disease risk factors, were included. Effect sizes were estimated using a random-effects model. RESULTS Resistance exercise demonstrated a smaller effect on resting blood pressure compared to aerobic exercise; however, it provided complementary benefits via distinct vascular and neural mechanisms. No significant differences were observed between resistance and aerobic exercise concerning cardiovascular disease risk factors and safety in patients with type 2 diabetes. Resistance exercise may be a viable alternative for individuals with type 2 diabetes who experience limitations in performing aerobic exercise due to obesity, osteoarthritis, neurological disorders, or vascular disease. Additionally, resistance exercise positively influenced lipid profiles and improved body composition by reducing body fat percentage and increasing lean muscle mass. CONCLUSIONS Resistance exercise is an effective intervention for enhancing muscle strength, improving muscular function, reducing body fat percentage, increasing basal metabolic rate, and enhancing bone density, thereby mitigating the risk of sarcopenia. Furthermore, it contributes to the improvement of key metabolic syndrome risk factors, including blood pressure, blood glucose levels, obesity, and lipid profiles, ultimately reducing morbidity and mortality. Given its broad physiological and clinical benefits, resistance exercise is recommended as an essential non-pharmacological strategy in health promotion, disease prevention, and rehabilitation.http://ajkinesiol.org/upload/pdf/ajk-2025-27-2-36.pdfblood sugarbody compositionlipid profilemetabolic syndrome risk factorsresistance trainingresting blood pressure
spellingShingle Deogjo Jung
Resistance Training is Medicine: Focusing on the Positive Impact on Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors
The Asian Journal of Kinesiology
blood sugar
body composition
lipid profile
metabolic syndrome risk factors
resistance training
resting blood pressure
title Resistance Training is Medicine: Focusing on the Positive Impact on Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors
title_full Resistance Training is Medicine: Focusing on the Positive Impact on Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors
title_fullStr Resistance Training is Medicine: Focusing on the Positive Impact on Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors
title_full_unstemmed Resistance Training is Medicine: Focusing on the Positive Impact on Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors
title_short Resistance Training is Medicine: Focusing on the Positive Impact on Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors
title_sort resistance training is medicine focusing on the positive impact on metabolic syndrome risk factors
topic blood sugar
body composition
lipid profile
metabolic syndrome risk factors
resistance training
resting blood pressure
url http://ajkinesiol.org/upload/pdf/ajk-2025-27-2-36.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT deogjojung resistancetrainingismedicinefocusingonthepositiveimpactonmetabolicsyndromeriskfactors