The Difference in the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome According to Meeting Guidelines for Aerobic Physical Activity and Muscle-Strengthening Exercise: A Cross-Sectional Study Performed Using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2014-2019

Abstract

Physical activity and muscle strengthening are essential for preventing and managing metabolic syndrome. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and meeting the guidelines for aerobic physical activity (APA), muscle strengthening exercise (MSE), and combined exercise. We used data from 22,467 Koreans aged 40 years or older, who participated in in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2014-2019. We used the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) to measure physical activity and surveyed frequency of MSE through a questionnaire. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the American heart association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Compared with none exercise group, odds ratios of APA, MSE, and combined exercise group (CEG) on metabolic syndrome prevalence were 0.85 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.74-0.98), 0.81 (95% CI, 0.67-0.99), and 0.65 (95% CI, 0.54-0.78) among men, respectively. Among women, ORs of APA, MSE, and CEG were 0.83 (95% CI, 0.73-0.93), 0.73 (95% CI, 0.58-0.91), and 0.74 (95% CI, 0.58-0.93), respectively. This study showed that meeting guidelines for APA and MSE was associated with lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, subjects who met both APA and MSE had the lowest metabolic syndrome prevalence.

Keywords: blood pressure; cholesterol; exercise; glucose; metabolic syndrome; obesity; triglycerides.

Figure 1

Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval of each exercise group on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (reference: none exercise group). Model 1: adjusted by age (continuous), Model 2: adjusted by age (continued), smoking (present or not), alcohol (<1/year, <1/month, ≥2/month), BMI (continuous), Model 3: adjusted by age (continuous), smoking (present or not), alcohol (<1/year, <1/month, ≥2/month), BMI (continuous), locality of dwelling (urban or rural), education level (under elementary school, elementary school graduate or middle school less, middle school graduate or high school less, university undergraduate or graduate) and household income (lower, middle, middle upper, and upper). Abbreviations: APA, aerobic physical activity group; MSE, muscle strengthening exercise group; CEG, combined exercise group.* p-value < 0.05, ** p-value < 0.01, *** p-value < 0.001.