Sedentary behaviors, physical activity, and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged French subjects.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationships of time spent in sedentary occupations with the National Cholesterol Education Program-defined metabolic syndrome (MS), taking into account the habitual level of physical activity (PA).


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional analysis in 1902 men and 1932 women 50 to 69 years of age participating in the French Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals study. We assessed past-year PA, television watching or computer use, and reading during leisure with the Modifiable Activity Questionnaire. Subjects who performed at least 150 min/wk of moderate-intensity PA (3 to 6 metabolic equivalent tasks) or 60 min/wk of vigorous PA (>6 metabolic equivalent tasks) were considered as meeting recommended levels.


RESULTS
The frequency of most MS components increased with time spent in front of a screen and decreased with increasing PA levels. The likelihood to have MS, adjusted for age, education, and smoking, was decreased by one-third in subjects meeting moderate PA guidelines and by two-thirds in subjects meeting vigorous PA recommendations [odds ratio (95% CI), 0.34 (0.17 to 0.66) in women, 0.44 (0.28 to 0.68) in men] compared with those with insufficient PA. Independently of PA levels, time spent in front of a screen was positively associated with the likelihood to have the MS in women [odds ratio (95% CI), 3.30 (2.04 to 5.34)], whereas in both sexes, no association was found with time spent reading.


CONCLUSIONS
The relationship of the MS with a sedentary lifestyle differs according to sex and type of sedentary occupation. These results suggest the need to assess selected indicators of sedentary behavior in preventive programs.
Bertrais
Sandrine
S
UMR INSERM U557/INRA U1125/CNAM EA 3200-MR, 5 rue du Vertbois, F-75003 Paris, France. sandrine.bertrais@cnam.fr
Beyeme-Ondoua
Jean-Paul
JP
Czernichow
Sébastien
S
Galan
Pilar
P
Hercberg
Serge
S
Oppert
Jean-Michel
JM
D000368:Aged; D001519:Behavior; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003201:Computers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011932:Reading; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television