Two different studies. Two different results. The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of signs and symptoms. One is diagnosed by having at three of the following: low "good" (HDL) cholester, high triglycerides, elevated blood pressure, elevated waist circumference and elevated fasting blood sugar. This is important because these patients have a much increased risk of vascular events (heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease, etc.) than the overall population. One purports to show that resistance training (lifting weights) is superior. The second purports that cardiovascular fitness (aerobic exercise) helps prevent metabolic syndrome.
The take-home point is probably that exercise in general will help prevent or, at least, delay the onset of metabolic syndrome. More study is needed comparing the two against each other to see which is more beneficial.
In my humble opinion, I suspect that resistance training is superior. While the body's metabolic engine is superior during aerobic exercise, it fairly quickly falls off to its baseline, while resistance training generally will lead to increased metabolic efficiency throughout the day!
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