Relationship between Weekly Physical Activity Frequency and Metabolic Syndrome

Oh, Jung Eun

Abstract

BACKGROUND
It is hard to find data concerning the relationship between weekly physical activity frequency and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, the object of this study is to evaluate the relationship between weekly physical activity frequency and prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Korean adults.
METHODS
Subjects of this cross-sectional study were 8,854 men and women aged 20 years or older, who visited the health promotion center of one university hospital in Chungcheongnam-do for a general health check-up from July 2008 to December 2010. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the revised NCEP-ATP III criteria. Study participants were divided into three groups according to weekly physical activity frequency. The risk of metabolic syndrome according to physical activity frequency was estimated using multiple logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 27.3% in men and 13.9% in women. After adjustments for age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and body mass index, the risk of metabolic syndrome among men participating in 2-3 and 4-7 days per week of leisure-time physical activity was significantly lower than that among men with 0-1 day per week physical activity; the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 0.68 (0.57-0.80) and 0.76 (0.63-0.90), respectively. No significant difference was seen among women.
CONCLUSION
For men, at least 30 minutes of leisure-time physical activity on 2 or more days a week decreases the risk of metabolic syndrome.