Sedentary behaviour, physical activity and dietary patterns are independently associated with the metabolic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the independent relationships of daily sitting time, levels of work and leisure-time physical activity (PA), and dietary patterns of patients with the metabolic syndrome (MetS).


METHODS
This population-based, cross-sectional study included 3090 French subjects aged 35-64 years. Daily time spent sitting and PA levels were assessed by an interview-administered questionnaire, while dietary patterns were identified using the factorial method of principal component analysis. Independent associations of lifestyle behaviours with the MetS were assessed by multivariable logistic-regression models adjusted for age, centre, educational level, smoking status, total calorie intake, heart rate and menopausal status.


RESULTS
The multivariable-adjusted ORs [95% CI] for MetS in the fourth quartile of sitting time and leisure-time PA were 1.65 [1.11-2.44] (P for trend < 0.01) and 0.58 [0.40-0.84] (P for trend < 0.001), respectively, for men, and 2.35 [1.41-3.92] (P for trend < 0.01) and 0.52 [0.33-0.82] (P for trend < 0.01), respectively, for women. Work PA was not favourably related to the MetS, particularly in women. An 'energy-dense' dietary pattern was independently associated with higher ORs for the MetS in both genders. However, accounting for body mass index (BMI) weakened the associations, which otherwise remained significant for leisure-time PA and the energy-dense dietary pattern in men, suggesting that BMI may be a potential mediator of these relationships.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated a dose-response association between sitting time, an energy-dense dietary pattern and the MetS, together with a graded inverse association between leisure-time PA and the MetS. In addition to the usual advice for PA and healthy eating, limiting the amount of time spent sitting should also be promoted through public-health initiatives.
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, EA 3430, University of Strasbourg, Faculty of Medicine, 4, rue Kirschleger, 67085 Strasbourg cedex, France. aline.wagner@unistra.fr
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A
Wagner
J
J
Dallongeville
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B
Haas
J B
JB
Ruidavets
P
P
Amouyel
J
J
Ferrières
C
C
Simon
D
D
Arveiler
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires