PLoS ONE (Jan 2013)

Different physical activity subtypes and risk of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older Chinese people.

  • Mu Chen,
  • Meian He,
  • Xinwen Min,
  • An Pan,
  • Xiaomin Zhang,
  • Ping Yao,
  • Xiulou Li,
  • Yuewei Liu,
  • Jing Yuan,
  • Weihong Chen,
  • Li Zhou,
  • Weimin Fang,
  • Yuan Liang,
  • Youjie Wang,
  • Xiaoping Miao,
  • Mingjian Lang,
  • Peng Zhang,
  • Dongfeng Li,
  • Huan Guo,
  • Handong Yang,
  • Frank B Hu,
  • Tangchun Wu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0053258
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
p. e53258

Abstract

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BackgroundThe prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is growing rapidly in China. Tai chi and dancing are common types of exercise among middle-aged and elderly Chinese. It remains unclear whether these activities are associated with a lower risk of MetS.Methodology/principal findingsA total of 15,514 individuals (6,952 men, 8,562 women) aged 50 to 70 years from the Dongfeng-Tongji Cohort in Shiyan, China participated in a cross-sectional study. Physical activity and other lifestyle factors were assessed with semi-structured questionnaires during face-to-face interviews. MetS was defined by the current National Cholesterol Education Program/Adult treatment Panel III criteria for Asian Americans. The prevalence of MetS was 33.2% in the study population. In the multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses, total physical activity levels were monotonically associated with a lower odds of MetS [OR 0.75 comparing extreme quintiles, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66-0.86, PConclusions/significanceJogging, tai chi and dancing are associated with a significantly lower risk of having MetS in middle-aged and older Chinese. Future intervention studies should consider the role of jogging, tai chi and dancing in preventing MetS.