Cardio Plus Weights Helps Blood Sugar but Shows No Clear Bonus
Graded Moderate — pooled 21 randomized studies with 1,853 people; certainty was moderate only for long-term blood sugar and low to very low for the other measures.
- Design
- Meta-analysis
- Participants
- 1,853
- Duration
- —
- Funding
- The authors declare no competing interests.
Combining cardio and strength training went with better blood sugar, but it showed no clear edge over cardio alone.
Many people in midlife and beyond mix endurance exercise with strength training. A large analysis finds that this combination went along with better blood sugar than no training at all. But compared with endurance training alone, it showed no clear added benefit.
The researchers pooled 21 studies with 1,853 people aged 45 or older. In every study, participants were assigned to their training at random. Compared with groups that did not train, combined training lowered long-term blood sugar, blood sugar and a measure of insulin resistance. That measure reflects how poorly the body responds to the hormone insulin. In people with overweight, it dropped more in partial analyses. For blood fats, there was too little data to draw a clear conclusion.
The long-term blood sugar result was the most solid. Here, combined training also showed a small edge over strength training alone. The authors urge caution, because the data were thin. The groups may also have done different total amounts of exercise. So the analysis does not show a consistent advantage over a single type of exercise.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The authors declare no competing interests.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.