The metabolic syndrome increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, and is linked to premature death. Brazilian researchers pooled the results of 17 studies involving more than 500 men and women. Weight training reduced resting blood pressure by about 4 mmHg but had minimal effects on blood sugar, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, diastolic blood pressure or waist circumference. Weight training has a small effect on reducing resting blood pressure.