Association of lifestyle and physical activity with the components of metabolic syndrome - A study of bank employees in Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) leads to millions of preventable cases and deaths worldwide. Present study reveals the components of metabolic syndrome among the bank employees in Lahore area of Pakistan. Total 530 male individuals were recruited in the study. Associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviors with the tendencies of metabolic syndrome were evaluated. The experimental and laboratory values for BMI, total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were used to demonstrate the incidence of metabolic syndrome. Overall, 39.025% of bank employees and 22.53% of randomly selected control individuals have metabolic syndrome. Among the bank employees, prevalence of obesity was 67.53% and in general population it was 57.1%. The mean values of body mass index (BMI) for bank employees and control population was 24.10± 0.5 kg/m2 and 20.43±1.0 kg/m2, respectively. Analysis of the components of metabolic syndrome demonstrate an abnormal level of low density lipoproteins (LDL) 24.4% and 17.5%, total cholesterol 15% and 7.8%, triglycerides 17.35% and 8.8%, fasting blood glucose 24.49% and 16.5% among bank employees and general population, respectively. Our studies have revealed that the high intake and less caloric burning due to inactive lifestyle has placed the bank employees at higher risk for MetS leading to CVD, diabetes type-II, atherosclerosis and hypertension.