title: Associations of visceral fat, physical activity and muscle strength with the metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the association of visceral fat with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its separate components; the associations of both physical activity and muscle strength with the MetS and its separate components independent of visceral fat. Furthermore, we studied these associations within participants with low and high amounts of visceral fat.
  
  
  METHODS
  400 men (aged 40-80 years) were recruited into a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Logistic regression models were used to study the individual associations in all participants (OR). The associations of physical activity (active vs inactive) and muscle strength (high vs low) within participants with low and high levels of visceral fat (assessed by ultrasonography) were tested using Univariate Analysis of Variance (difference in mean levels of the separate components of MetS) and logistic regression (risk on MetS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  High levels of visceral fat were significantly associated with increased risk of MetS (OR 1.7 95%CI 1.5;1.9) and its separate components (p<0.05). We did not find strong individual associations for physical activity or muscle strength, neither within men with low or high levels of visceral fat.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High body fat levels were associated with an unhealthier metabolic risk profile and a higher risk of the MetS. Our cross-sectional data do not indicate associations for physical activity or for muscle strength with the MetS independent of visceral fat. Also no differential associations of physical activity or muscle strength in men with low or high levels of visceral fat were found.
authors.affiliation: Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. c.n.steinsbisschop@umcutrecht.nl
authors.forename: Charlotte N Steins
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Bisschop
authors.forename: Petra H M
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: Evelyn M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Monninkhof
authors.forename: Yvonne T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: van der Schouw
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: May
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D009426:Netherlands; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: Metabolic risk factors; Metabolic syndrome; Muscle strength; Physical activity; Visceral fat