Abstract
Objectives The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between standard lifestyle questionnaires and the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Methods We analyzed the data on 278,989 people (111,524 males and 167,465 females) living in Chiba Prefecture who underwent consecutive medical check-ups in 2008 and 2009. The standard lifestyle questionnaire administered during the check-ups consisted of 10 items, including three on exercise behaviors, four on dietary behaviors, and one each on drinking, smoking, and sleeping behaviors. An individual was assigned to the “developing MetS” category if there was no diagnosis of MetS in 2008, followed by a diagnosis of MetS or pre-MetS in 2009. We calculated the odds ratios for developing MetS adjusted for gender and age. Developing MetS was the dependent factor in a multiple logistic regression analysis used to examine its relationship to responses on the lifestyle questionnaire.
Results In men, the odds of developing MetS were significantly lower for participants who exercised regularly (“walking fast,” OR=0.88, 95% CI [0.83–0.93]; and “higher physical activity,” 0.85, [0.80–0.90]), but were significantly higher for those who engaged in _ dietary behaviors and drinking (“eating fast,” 1.49, [1.40–1.59]; “having a habit of eating late-night snacks,” 1.15, [1.05–1.27]; “having a late night meal,” 1.15, [1.08–1.23]; and “drinking every night,” 1.08, [1.02–1.14]). In women, the odds of developing MetS were significantly lower for subjects who reported engaging in regular exercise and drinking (“walking fast,” 0.74, [0.70–0.78]; “higher physical activity,” 0.92, [0.87–0.98]; and “drinking every night,” 0.80, [0.71–0.90]), but were significantly higher for those who had such dietary behaviors as “eating fast” (1.48, [1.39–1.58]), “having a habit of eating late-night snacks” (1.15, [1.05–1.26]), “having a late night meal” (1.19, [1.10–1.29]), and “not having breakfast” (1.21, [1.07–1.36]).
Conclusion These results show that poor dietary or exercise habits as determined by the standard lifestyle questionnaire were associated with the development of MetS.
