title: Effects of Lifestyle Intervention on Physiological Outcomes in Chinese Adults With, or at High Risk of, Metabolic Syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metabolic syndrome (MS) increases the risk of cardiovascular events and the development of diabetes. This article reports the effects of lifestyle intervention on the physiological outcomes of people with or at high risk of MS in the community setting of Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chinese adults with 2 or more MS components were recruited from 13 community centers, which were cluster-randomized to the intervention or control group. The intervention group received a low-intensity lifestyle intervention program for people with MS consisting of group sessions, individual counseling, and telephone follow-ups over 3 months. The control group received standard care plus an attention placebo. The primary outcomes were body weight and waist circumference, whereas the secondary outcomes included blood pressure, lipids, glucose, and number of MS components. Linear mixed-effects models were used to compare the effects of the program between the 2 groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The final sample consisted of 183 adults (19.1% male) with a mean (SD) age of 54.0 (7.8) years. At 3 months, overall MS prevalence was reduced to 13.8%. Compared with the control group, subjects in the intervention group exhibited a reduced waist circumference (β = -.146, P = .008) when the interaction effects of time and group were considered simultaneously. However, no significant differences were found for changes in the other measured outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A low-intensity lifestyle intervention program for people with MS can reduce central obesity among people with or at high risk for MS. Further research is necessary to confirm the long-term physiological effects of the intervention.
authors.affiliation: Sally Wai Sze Lo, PhD, RN Professional Consultant, The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. Sek Ying Chair, PhD, RN Professor, The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. Iris Fung Kam Lee, PhD, RN Associate Professor, The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Sally Wai Sze
authors.initials: SWS
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Sek Ying
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chair
authors.forename: Iris Fung Kam
authors.initials: IFK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D001835:Body Weight; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D037001:Directive Counseling; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055105:Waist Circumference