title: Leisure-time exercise, physical activity during work and commuting, and risk of metabolic syndrome.
abstract: Data are limited regarding effect of intensity of leisure-time physical activity on metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, no prospective data are available regarding effect of occupational and commuting physical activity on metabolic syndrome. We compared metabolic syndrome risk by intensity level of leisure-time exercise and by occupational and commuting physical activity in Japanese workers. We followed 22,383 participants, aged 30-64 years, without metabolic syndrome until 2014 March (maximum, 5 years of follow-up). Physical activity was self-reported. Metabolic syndrome was defined by the Joint Statement criteria. We used Cox regression models to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) of metabolic syndrome. During a mean follow-up of 4.1 years, 5361 workers developed metabolic syndrome. After adjustment for covariates, compared with engaging in no exercise, the HRs (95 % CIs) for <7.5, 7.5 to <16.5, and ≥16.5 metabolic equivalent hours of exercise per week were 0.99 (0.90, 1.08), 0.99 (0.90, 1.10), and 0.95 (0.83, 1.08), respectively, among individuals engaging in moderate-intensity exercise alone; 0.93 (0.75, 1.14), 0.81 (0.64, 1.02), and 0.84 (0.66, 1.06), among individuals engaging in vigorous-intensity exercise alone; and 0.90 (0.70, 1.17), 0.74 (0.62, 0.89), and 0.81 (0.69, 0.96) among individuals engaging in the two intensities. Higher occupational physical activity was weakly but significantly associated with lower risk of metabolic syndrome. Walking to and from work was not associated with metabolic syndrome. Vigorous-intensity exercise alone or vigorous-intensity combined with moderate-intensity exercise and worksite intervention for physical activity may help prevent metabolic syndrome for Japanese workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Center for Clinical Sciences, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan. kkuwahara@med.teikyo-u.ac.jp.|Teikyo University Graduate School of Public Health, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan. kkuwahara@med.teikyo-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuwahara
authors.affiliation: Hitachi Health Care Center, Hitachi, Ltd., 4-3-16 Ohse-cho, Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.affiliation: Hitachi Health Care Center, Hitachi, Ltd., 4-3-16 Ohse-cho, Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.affiliation: Hitachi Health Care Center, Hitachi, Ltd., 4-3-16 Ohse-cho, Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Center for Clinical Sciences, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shamima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akter
authors.affiliation: Hitachi Health Care Center, Hitachi, Ltd., 4-3-16 Ohse-cho, Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Center for Clinical Sciences, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizoue
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014186:Transportation; D016138:Walking
keywords: Asians; Cohort studies; Domain of physical activity; Dose of exercise; Intensity of exercise; Prevention