People who lift weights are less likely to have metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors linked to heart disease and diabetes. A recent study finds a 37 percent reduction in the odds.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that includes a large waist circumference (40 inches for men and 35 inches for women), high triglyceride levels, reduced levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and high glucose levels.

People having any three of those factors are considered to have the syndrome. 

Lifting weights is more common among men than women and among people under age 50. The researchers encouraged more people to give it a try.

SOURCE

"Lifting Weights Protects Against Metabolic Syndrome" Wolters Kluwer Health, 10/23/12