Recent studies have suggested the importance of the neighborhood environment in determining the specific type of physical activity. However, few studies on this topic have been undertaken in Japan. This study examined the association of three types of physical activity and their associations with individual and neighborhood environmental factors among middle-aged and elderly Japanese. Participants were 2,449 adults aged 40–69 living in Fujisawa city who had undergone health checkups and responded to our survey by mail. Individual factors, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (long form), and its environmental module acted as inputs to the study. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of high levels of moderate-to-vigorous intensity leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), walking for active recreation, and transportation were calculated in relation to individual and neighborhood environmental factors through multiple logistic regression models. Not working and good self-rated health were significantly associated with a higher level of each physical activity outcome. According to the adjusted ORs, higher educational attainment, higher economic status, good access to exercise facilities, and owning motor vehicles were associated with longer LTPA time. However, different sets of factors were associated with longer walking times for recreation and transportation. The results suggest that diverse individual and neighborhood environmental characteristics are associated with different physical activity outcomes. Therefore, customizing environments to become activity-friendly is necessary to increase physical activity effectively among middle-aged and elderly Japanese.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex interrelated risk factor for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. High cardiorespiratory fitness is known to contribute to prevention of MetS. However, little is known regarding the association between muscular fitness and MetS in Japanese adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between muscular fitness and MetS in Japanese women and men. This cross-sectional study included 335 women and 209 men aged 30 - 79 y. MetS was determined according to the 2009 criteria of the International Diabetes Federation. Muscular fitness was evaluated by muscular fitness composite score (MFS), which was determined using Z scores from grip strength and sit-ups. Participants were classified by MFS tertile into low, middle, and high MFS groups. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to estimate odds ratios for the incidence of MetS in each group. The prevalence of MFS was 27.2% in women and 27.3% in men. Adjusted odds ratios for MetS prevalence in the low, middle, and high MFS groups, after adjusting for age, smoking status, alcohol intake, and exercise habits, were 1.0 (referent), 0.90 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.50 - 1.62), and 0.49 (95% CI, 0.25 - 0.94; P for trend = 0.03) in women; in men, they were 1.0 (referent), 0.49 (0.23 - 1.04), and 0.42 (0.18 - 0.97; P for trend = 0.04), respectively. Muscular fitness is inversely associated with the prevalence of MetS in Japanese women and men
METHODS: Data was obtained from 442 men and women (22-64 yrs). PA was assessed during 7 days using a Sensewear armband and an electronic diary. Total PA and active energy expenditure (AEE, metmin/day ≥ 3 met) in multiple domains of daily life were analyzed. Participants were divided into tertiles of PA and classified as having the MS or individual risk factors using the NCEP-ATPIII definition. Spearman correlations and logistic regression were used to examine associations between PA and (risk factors for) the MS. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated against the reference group of the least active. Analyses were adjusted for gender, age, education, smoking and alcohol consumption. RESULTS:The MS was observed in 6% of subjects. Hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL levels, abdominal obesity and hyperglycemia was found in 39%, 16%, 13%, 11% and 2% of subjects respectively. Low correlation coefficients (-0.61 to 0.38) between PA and the risk factors were obtained. Subjects with a moderate or high PA level (met), high amounts of moderate, vigorous or total PA (min/day) or low sitting time had a lower odds of having the MS (OR: 0.12 -0.24) or individual risk factors (OR: 0.02 -0.55). Light PA was not associated with the MS or individual risk factors. Subjects with a moderate and high number of steps were less likely to have abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia or hypertension. The OR for abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL in the high leisure time AEE group was 0.42, 0.33 and 0.34 respectively. Subjects with moderate and high AEE during transport or household chores were less likely to have abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia or hypertension (OR: 0.16 -0.66). In addition, the OR for low HDL in the high household AEE group was 0.15. High occupational AEE was only associated with hypertriglyceridemia (OR: 0.36). CONCLUSION:High levels of total PA or AEE during leisure time, transport and household chores were associated with lower odds of the MS and individual risk factors. (No relationships reported)The metabolic syndrome is a complex interrelated risk factor for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. High cardiorespiratory fitness was known to contribute a prevention of metabolic syndrome. However, a little is known regarding the association between muscular fitness and metabolic syndrome in Japanese. PURPOSE:To examine the associations between muscular fitness and metabolic syndrome in Japanese women and men. METHODS:This cross-sectional study included 335 women and 209 men, aged 30-79 years. Metabolic syndrome was determined according to the criteria of International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Muscular fitness was evaluated by muscular fitness score (MFS) which was determined using Z-scores from hand grip strength and sit-ups. Participants were classified by tertile of MFS such as low, middle and high MFS group. We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios for the incidence of metabolic syndrome in each group. RESULTS:The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 27.2% in wome...
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