Modifiable lifestyle factors and the metabolic syndrome in older men: Effects of lifestyle changes.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the influence of lifestyle factors and changes in these factors on risk of the metabolic syndrome in elderly men.


METHODS
Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of cohort study.


METHODS
General practices in 24 British towns.


METHODS
Three thousand fifty-one men aged 60 to 79 with no diabetes mellitus or diagnosis of coronary heart disease.


METHODS
Lifestyle factors (smoking, physical activity, alcohol intake, body weight, dietary fat and carbohydrate intake) including recent changes in the previous 3 years (physical activity and body weight); metabolic syndrome.


RESULTS
After adjustment for each of the other modifiable lifestyle factors, overweight/obesity and physical inactivity were associated with a significantly higher risk of the metabolic syndrome, as were cigarette smoking and a high-carbohydrate diet (>57% of energy). Alcohol intake and dietary fat intake were not related to the metabolic syndrome. Long-term ex-smokers showed similar risk to never smokers. Taking up physical activity and losing weight in the previous 3 years were associated with a reduction in risk of the metabolic syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
Overweight/obesity, physical inactivity, a high-carbohydrate diet, and cigarette smoking are associated with higher risk of the metabolic syndrome in elderly men. Modification of lifestyle factors, even later in life, has considerable potential for primary prevention of the metabolic syndrome.
Wannamethee
S Goya
SG
Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, United Kingdom. goya@pcps.ucl.ac.uk
Shaper
A Gerald
AG
Whincup
Peter H
PH
D000368:Aged; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005853:Geriatrics; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D006113:United Kingdom