International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 4 authors, 5 centres
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This cross-sectional study used a wearable device to measure physical activity in 163 Japanese office workers and found that individuals with pre-metabolic syndrome (pre-MetS), but not those with full MetS, had significantly lower odds of meeting daily step count and active minute guidelines compared to those without MetS. The day of the week was a significant modifier of these associations, and the findings suggest a need for longitudinal research with larger, more diverse samples.
This cross-sectional study examined the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) status and objectively measured physical activity (PA) in Japanese office workers. The analysis included 163 participants (151 men, 12 women) from the intervention arm of a 3-month RCT, who used a Fitbit Versa wearable device. MetS status was classified into three groups (no-MetS, pre-MetS, MetS) based on Japanese guidelines using annual health check-up data. The primary outcomes were daily step count and active minutes (≥3 METs). Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to estimate associations, adjusting for covariates like age, sex, day of the week, lifestyle factors, and health awareness.
Key results showed that compared to individuals with no-MetS, those with MetS did not have a significant inverse association with PA (e.g., step count OR=0.81, 95% CI: 0.47, 1.40). However, the pre-MetS group had significantly lower odds of reaching the recommended daily step count (OR=0.60, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.99) and active minutes (OR=0.62, 95% CI: 0.40, 0.96). A sensitivity analysis revealed that the day of the week (weekday vs. weekend/holiday) was a significant effect modifier (p < 0.001), with PA levels being lower on weekends/holidays across all MetS groups. Limitations include the cross-sectional design, inability to infer causation, the predominantly male study population, and potential heterogeneity within MetS groups. The findings suggest that individuals with pre-MetS may be an important target for PA interventions to prevent MetS onset, and that consistent PA throughout the week is crucial.
