Association between physical activity and insulin resistance in Iranian adults: National Surveillance of Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases (SuRFNCD-2007).
BACKGROUND
Insulin resistance is an underlying mechanism of metabolic syndrome. We attempted to determine the association between physical activity and insulin resistance in Iranian adults.


METHODS
The data of the third national Surveillance of Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases (SuRFNCD-2007) in Iran were used. We ran the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) over a nationally representative sample of 3101 adults. Total physical activity (TPA) was calculated using metabolic equivalents (MET) for intensity of physical activities. Insulin resistance was measured by the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).


RESULTS
When physical activity was classified into high, moderate, and low categories, HOMA-IR values significantly increased from the high category to the moderate and low categories (p<0.01). After adjustment for age, area of residence, smoking, and body mass index (BMI), TPA (r=-0.26, p<0.01 in males and r=-0.21, p<0.01 in females), duration of vigorous-intensity activity (r=-0.28, p<0.01 in males and r=-0.18, p=0.01 in females), duration of moderate-intensity activity (r=-0.16, p=0.01 in males and r=-0.17, p<0.01 in females), and the time spent on sedentary behaviors (r=0.16, p=0.01 in males and r=-0.22, p<0.01 in females) were significantly correlated to HOMA-IR. The prevalence of physical inactivity increased linearly with increasing HOMA-IR quintiles.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate a significant relationship between physical inactivity and insulin resistance. For communities in a transition phase of lifestyle, encouraging physical activity may help prevent insulin resistance and its adverse consequences.
Esteghamati
Alireza
A
Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Vali-Asr Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences PO Box 13145-784, Tehran, Iran. esteghamati@tums.ac.ir
Khalilzadeh
Omid
O
Rashidi
Armin
A
Meysamie
Alipasha
A
Haghazali
Mehrdad
M
Asgari
Fereshteh
F
Abbasi
Mehrshad
M
Rastad
Shadab
S
Gouya
Mohammad Mehdi
MM
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000208:ethnology*; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001786:Blood Glucose