Gender differences in metabolic syndrome and its components in southern china using a healthy lifestyle index: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Lifestyle changes are important for the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome (MetS), but studies that focus on gender differences in the lifestyle risk factors of MetS are limited in China. This research aimed to generate a healthy lifestyle index (HLI) to assess the behavioral risk factors of MetS and its components, and to explore the gender differences in HLI score and other influencing factors of MetS. Methods A convenience sample of 532 outpatients were recruited from a general hospital in Changsha, China. The general information and HLI scores [including physical activity (PA), diet, smoking, alcohol use, and body mass index (BMI)] of the subjects were collected through questionnaires, and each patient’s height, weight, waist circumference, and other physical signs were measured. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of MetS and its components. Results The prevalence of MetS was 33.3% for the whole sample (46.3% in males and 23.3% in females). The risk of MetS increased with age, smoking, unhealthy diet, and BMI in males and with age and BMI in females. Our logistic regression analysis showed that lower HLI (male: OR = 0.838,95%CI = 0.757–0.929; female: OR = 0.752, 95%CI = 0.645–0.876) and older age (male: OR = 2.899, 95%CI = 1.446–5.812; female: OR = 4.430, 95%CI = 1.640–11.969) were independent risk factors of MetS, for both sexes. Conclusion Low levels of HLI and older ages were independent risk factors of MetS in both males and females. The association between aging and MetS risk was stronger in females, while the association between unhealthy lifestyles and MetS risk was stronger in males. Our findings reinforced the expected gender differences in MetS prevalence and its risk factors, which has implications for the future development of gender-specific MetS prevention and intervention programs.

Combined Influence of Eight Lifestyle Factors on Metabolic Syndrome Incidence: A Prospective Cohort Study from the MECH-HK Study

“…To our knowledge, there was no cohort study conducted with Chinese people. The only related one is a Chinese cross-sectional investigation involving 532 Chinese adults, which observed an inverse relationship between a five-item healthy lifestyle index (physical activity, diet, smoking, alcohol, and BMI) and MetS prevalence in both men (OR = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.76–0.93) and women (OR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.65–0.88) [ 43 ].…”

“…As a result, we included a total of ten food categories in the present healthy diet index, which were fruits, vegetables, soy-based products, dairy products, cakes, fish, eggs, red meats, processed meats, and pickled vegetables. Similar to a Chinese study [ 43 ], we assigned scores of 1–6 for healthy food (fruits, vegetables, soy-based products, dairy products, fish, eggs, and pickled vegetables), with higher values reflecting more frequent intake. Conversely, for unhealthy food (cakes, red meats, and processed meats), we assigned scores of 1–6, where higher values indicated less frequent intake.…”

Comparison of metabolic syndrome prevalence using three different definitions: A population-based study in Peru

“…On the other hand, the IDF definition places particular emphasis on central obesity (measured as waist circumference) along with the presence of two or more of the other factors. It is likely that the males in our sample had fewer metabolic risk factors, according to the ATPIII definition, plus a higher prevalence of central obesity, which would classify them as MetS according to the IDF definition (25,26) .…”

“…It’s like how your life changes when you get spliced, like what you eat and how much you move around, which could add to a higher chance of issues. Likewise, stress and changes to who’s there for you, which may come with leaving or being left, may also have an effect on how your body works (25) .…”

Associations of combined lifestyle index with migraine prevalence and headache frequency: a cross-sectional study from the MECH-HK study

“…The intake frequencies were “never”, “< 1 time/month”, “1–3 times/month”, “1–3 times/week”, “4–6 times/week”, and “every day”. Similar with a previous Chinese study, a healthy diet index was formulated based on these data [ 35 ]. Specifically, in this study, we first performed univariable analyses to explore the associations between the intake frequency of each food category and migraine.…”