Physical activity and the metabolic syndrome in a tri-ethnic sample of women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association of moderate-intensity physical activity (PA), vigorous-intensity PA, and maximal treadmill duration with the metabolic syndrome among African-American (n = 49), Native-American (n = 46), and white (n = 51) women (ages, 40 to 83 years), enrolled in the Cross-Cultural Activity Participation Study.


METHODS
The metabolic syndrome was defined as three or more of the following risk factors: waist circumference >88 cm, blood pressure > or =130/85 mm Hg, fasting glucose > or =110 mg/dL, hypertriglyceridemia (> or =150 mg/dL), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol <50 mg/dL. PA was determined from detailed PA records that included all PA performed during two consecutive 4-day periods. Maximal treadmill duration was determined from a graded exercise test. Women were categorized into quartiles of moderate-intensity PA, vigorous-intensity PA, and maximal treadmill duration. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios of the metabolic syndrome as a function of the four PA categories, adjusted for age, ethnicity, study site, menopausal status, and use of hormone-replacement therapy.


RESULTS
The adjusted odds ratio for the metabolic syndrome was 0.18 (95% confidence interval, 0.33 to 0.90) for women in the highest category of moderate-intensity PA compared with women in the lowest category (p = 0.01 for trend). Similar associations were observed for the metabolic syndrome with vigorous-intensity PA (p = 0.01 for trend) and maximal treadmill duration (p = 0.0004 for trend).


CONCLUSIONS
Higher levels of moderate and vigorous-intensity PA and greater maximal treadmill duration were inversely associated with the metabolic syndrome among an ethnically diverse sample of women.
Irwin
Melinda L
ML
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8034, USA. melinda.irwin@yale.edu
Ainsworth
Barbara E
BE
Mayer-Davis
Elizabeth J
EJ
Addy
Cheryl L
CL
Pate
Russell R
RR
Durstine
J Larry
JL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D005006:Ethnicity; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009516:New Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D009765:Obesity; D013022:South Carolina / Q000208:ethnology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides