Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Acute Effects of Strength Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Adults
Published on: December 1, 2023
The relationship between resistance exercise and cardiometabolic health: a cross-sectional analysis of the 1970
Ravi K Narang1, John J Mitchell1, Mark Hamer1,2
1Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, University College London, 170 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7HA UK.
Purpose:
Resistance exercise (RE) has been shown to have a positive impact on cardiometabolic health, independent of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). However, previous studies primarily used self-reported MVPA data, which are prone to bias. The aim of this study was to examine if the association between RE frequency and cardiometabolic health was independent of device-measured MVPA.
Methods:
Cross-sectional analyses were conducted using participants from the 1970 British Cohort Study. This included up to 4,881 participants (age 46-48) with outcome-specific analytical samples. RE frequency data were collected via self-report. MVPA data were collected via thigh-worn accelerometry. Cardiometabolic outcomes included systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol:high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC:HDL-C) ratio, and HbA1c. Associations between RE frequency and each outcome were tested using multivariable linear regression and presented as percent differences. Covariates included sex, MVPA, smoking status, alcohol consumption, educational attainment, self-rated health, and disability.
Results:
Compared to 'no RE', RE frequency was inversely associated with SBP (percent difference [95% CI]; 2-4 times/month: -1.28% [-2.38, -0.19]; ≥ 2 times/week: -1.12% [-2.11, -0.14]), TC:HDL-C (2-4 times/month: -5.00% [-8.19, -1.81]; ≥ 2 times/week: -7.04% [-9.89, -4.19]), and HbA1c (2-4 times/month: -3.04% [-4.76,-1.32]; ≥ 2 times/week: -3.03% [-4.56,-1.50]) in models adjusted for sex and MVPA. These associations were attenuated after adjusting for all covariates, except for an inverse association between RE frequency ≥ 2 times/week and TC:HDL-C (-3.99% [-6.83,-1.15]).
Conclusion:
We identified consistent inverse associations between RE frequency and cardiometabolic outcomes. Associations were largely maintained after adjustment for sex and device-measured MVPA, but were mostly attenuated after additional adjustment for behavioral and health-related covariates. Only TC:HDL-C remained independently associated with high-frequency RE, suggesting that regular RE may be associated with a more favorable TC:HDL-C profile independent of MVPA.
Supplementary Information:
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11332-026-01860-0.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
01:26Longitudinal Studies
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction