Associations of visceral fat area and physical activity levels with the risk of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women.
This study was aimed at the evaluation of relationship between visceral fat area (VFA) and physical activity (PA) with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk in the physically active postmenopausal women. A total of 85 attendants of the University of the Third Age (U3A) aged 62.8 ± 5.9 years (median time since menopause 11.8 y), participated in this study. VFA was assessed by bioimpedance method using InBody 720 analyzer. PA was assessed using the ActiGraph GT1 M accelerometer. Fasting levels of serum lipids (TG, HDL), serum glucose, waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure were measured to diagnose MetS according to NCEP-ATP III criteria. In 73 out of 85 participants the VFA exceeded the upper normal level of 100 cm2, however, in almost a half of this group (n = 36) with elevated VFA (139.5 ± 26.1 cm2on average), only 2 out of 5 criteria for MetS diagnosis were met. Participants were physically active, making on average 10,919 ± 3435 steps/day. The risk of MetS occurrence in women with VFA > 100 cm2was twelve times higher (OR 12.33; CI 95% [1.5; 99.8]) than in the group with VFA < 100 cm2. The participants from the group with the highest PA level (≥12,500 steps/day) were at almost 4 times lower risk for MetS, than their less active counterparts (OR 3.84; CI 95% [1.27;11.64]). Increased level of VFA is a strong risk factor for the MetS in postmenopausal women, however high level of regular PA above the threshold of 12,500 steps/day may substantially reduce it.
The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Mikołowska 72a, 40 065, Katowice, Poland.
Izabela
I
Zając-Gawlak
The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Mikołowska 72a, 40 065, Katowice, Poland. b.klapcinska@awf.katowice.pl.
Barbara
B
Kłapcińska
Department of Psychology, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Chodakowska 19/31, 03-815, Warsaw, Poland.
Aleksandra
A
Kroemeke
The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Mikołowska 72a, 40 065, Katowice, Poland.
Dariusz
D
Pośpiech
Center for Kinanthropology Research, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University Olomouc, Tř. Míru 115, 771 11, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Jana
J
Pelclová
Department of Natural Sciences in Kinanthropology, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University Olomouc, Tř. Míru 115, 771 11, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Miroslava
M
Přidalová
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D012307:Risk Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids
Metabolic syndrome; Physical activity; Visceral fat; Women