Evaluation of Nutritional Knowledge and Level of Physical Activity and its Relation to Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Militaries Men

Abstract

Background and Objective: Having a proper diet is very important. Many risk factors are involved in the development of cardiovascular disease that by changing them, the incidence of this disease can be reduced. This study was performed to determine the relationship between nutritional knowledge and level of physical activity with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and some cardiovascular risk factors in militaries men. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 97 athletes and non-athletes militaries men. The standard Parmenter and Wardle Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire of 1999 and Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire were completed. Subjects' fitness scores and physical indicators were measured. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome, based on revised ATP ш and IDF was calculated. Results: The mean nutritional knowledge of the subjects was moderate to low. There was a significant correlation between the nutritional knowledge, level of physical activity and fitness score and cardiovascular risk factors (P<0.05). Also there was a significant correlation between the nutritional knowledge, level of physical activity and fitness score with preventing metabolic syndrome (P<0.05). Conclusion: With increasing nutritional knowledge, physical activity and fitness scores the risk of cardiovascular factors reduces and the possibility of metabolic syndrome prevention increase.

Keywords

• nutrition sciences
• exercise
• metabolic syndrome
• heart disease risk factors