High Amounts of Sitting, Low Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Low Physical Activity Levels: 3 Key Ingredients in the Recipe for Influencing Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence

Purpose: Limited research has evaluated the independent and additive associations of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sedentary behavior (SB), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with metabolic syndrome, which was the purpose of this study. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003 to 2004. Sample: Three hundred seven adults aged 20 to 49 years. Measures: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and SB were assessed via accelerometer, whereas CRF was assessed via submaximal treadmill testing. Metabolic syndrome was assessed via the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines. Analysis: Multivariable logistic regression. Results: A 10 min/d increase in MVPA was associated with a 45% reduced odds of metabolic syndrome (odds ratio [OR] - 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 0.40-0.76, P - .001), and a 10 mL/kg/min increase in CRF was associated with a 43% reduced odds of having metabolic syndrome (OR - 0.57, 95% CI - 0.37-0.87, P - .013). Additionally, a statistically significant combined association of MVPA, SB, and CRF with metabolic syndrome was present; individuals who had below-median SB and above-median MVPA and CRF had an 88% reduced odds of metabolic syndrome (OR - 0.12, 95% CI - 0.03-0.48, P - .005) when compared to those who had below-median MVPA and CRF and above-median SB. Conclusion: When considering MVPA, SB, and CRF, MVPA and CRF were both independently associated with metabolic syndrome (SB was not) among this young adult population and there was also evidence to support a combined association of all 3 parameters on metabolic syndrome.