Regional gender-specific lifestyle modifications for metabolic syndrome: Locomotive physical activity or dietary salt restriction

Abstract

Lifestyle modifications such as locomotive physical activity and dietary salt restriction can ameliorate some components of metabolic syndrome. However, it remains unclear that locomotive physical activity and dietary salt restriction play roles in ameliorating abdominal obesity gender specifically. Fifty-two subjects (59 ± 7 years of age, 56% males and 44% females) participated a special health promotion program to improve metabolic syndrome. Before and after the 6-month support program, body weight, waist circumference, visceral fat area, arterial stiffness and estimated dietary salt were measured. Just after the program, physical activity was accessed using triaxial accelerometers. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis was performed to clarify the contributing factors to ameliorate abdominal obesity gender specifically. Lifestyle modifications slightly but significantly reduced waist circumference and visceral fat area in the fifty-two participants with metabolic syndrome. Successful BW reductions were associated with locomotive physical activity and step counts in the male participants. The changes in body weight were correlated with locomotive physical activity in the male subjects. Estimated dietary salt was decreased after lifestyle modifications and the changes in body weight and visceral fat area were correlated with salt restriction in the female subjects. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis indicated that salt restriction contributed to ameliorating visceral obesity in the female subjects. Locomotive physical activity and dietary salt restriction supported by regional health nurses can efficiently ameliorate metabolic syndrome in the male and female subjects, respectively. • Physical activity and salt restriction for metabolic syndrome gender specifically.