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. 2015 May 20;10(5):e0126737.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126737. eCollection 2015.

Physical activity, body composition and metabolic syndrome in young adults

Minna K Salonen  1 , Niko Wasenius  2 , Eero Kajantie  3 , Aulikki Lano  4 , Jari Lahti  5 , Kati Heinonen  6 , Katri Räikkönen  6 , Johan G Eriksson  7
Affiliations

Physical activity, body composition and metabolic syndrome in young adults

Minna K Salonen et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objective: Low physical activity (PA) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders in all age groups. We measured intensity and volume of PA and examined the associations between PA and the metabolic syndrome (MS), its components and body composition among young Finnish adults.

Research design and methods: The study comprises 991 men and women born 1985-86, who participated in a clinical study during the years 2009-11 which included assessments of metabolism, body composition and PA. Objectively measured (SenseWear Armband) five-day PA data was available from 737 participants and was expressed in metabolic equivalents of task (MET).

Results: The prevalence of MS ranged between 8-10%. Higher total mean volume (MET-hours) or intensity (MET) were negatively associated with the risk of MS and separate components of MS, while the time spent at sedentary level of PA was positively associated with MS.

Conclusions: MS was prevalent in approximately every tenth of the young adults at the age of 24 years. Higher total mean intensity and volume rates as well as longer duration spent at moderate and vigorous PA level had a beneficial impact on the risk of MS. Longer time spent at the sedentary level of PA increased the risk of MS.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Body composition and physical activity.
Mean and standard deviations of body mass index (kg/m2), waist circumference and body fat percentage according to physical activity quintiles of total volume (MET-hours) in men (black bars) and women (gray bars). MET-hours ranges for the quintiles were: 19.92–33.22, 33.25–36.39, 36.39–38.87, 38.90–42.77 and 42.79–60.34, respectively. Inverse associations between volume and body composition measures, adjusted for age, smoking and educational attainment were statistically significant in both genders (P for trend < 0.001 for all).
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