title: Association of physical activity and the metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents: CASPIAN Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the association of physical activity and the metabolic syndrome in a large national-representative sample of children.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed in 2003-2004 on 4,811 school students aged 6-18 years, selected by multi-stage random cluster sampling from six provinces in Iran. We assessed the level of physical activity using a standardized questionnaire, and categorized it to the tertiles. The metabolic syndrome was defined based on criteria analogous to those of the Adult Treatment Panel III.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants comprised 2,248 boys and 2,563 girls with a mean age of 12.07 +/- 3.2 years. In all age groups, boys were more physically active than girls. The metabolic syndrome was detected in 14.1% of participants, and its prevalence was higher in those subjects in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd tertiles of physical activity, respectively (15.1 vs.14.2 and 13.1%, respectively, p <0.05). This difference was seen in boys, while no difference was found between girls in the 2nd and 3rd tertiles of physical activity. Physical activity was linked to a cluster of factors consisting of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and waist circumference, followed by triglycerides in boys, and of triglycerides, waist circumference and blood pressure in girls. In both genders, before and after adjustment for age and body mass index, low levels of physical activity significantly increased the risk of having the metabolic syndrome [in boys: OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1, 2.1; and in girls, OR: 1.6 (1.1, 1.9)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found an association between physical activity and the metabolic syndrome, which was independent of body mass index and age. Children should be encouraged to have greater physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Pediatric Cardiology, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. kroya@aap.net
authors.forename: Roya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kelishadi
authors.forename: Emran Mohammad
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Razaghi
authors.forename: Mohammad Mehdí
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gouya
authors.forename: Gelayol
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ardalan
authors.forename: Riaz
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gheiratmand
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delavari
authors.forename: Molouk
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motaghian
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ziaee
authors.forename: Zahra Dana
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Siadat
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Majdzadeh
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heshmat
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barekati
authors.forename: Minoo Sadat Mahmoud
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Arabi
authors.forename: Abtin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heidarzadeh
authors.forename: Keivan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shariatinejad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*