Abstract
Background: Metabolic syndrome (Met S) is one of the major public health challenges worldwide and if not detected and controlled properly it can lead to Cardio Vascular disease (CVDs) and death. The presence of Metabolic syndrome in an individual can be estimated according to criteria such as those proposed by International Diabetes Federation (IDF), National Cholesterol Education Programme-Adult Treatment Panel-III(NCEP-ATP-III) and by World Health Organization( WHO). The purpose of all these definitions is to find out the edge group in the population who are at increased risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases (CVDs / CHDs). Metabolic syndrome is mainly of lifestyle origin and the extent of physical activity and dietary habit can have some sort of influence on the development of the same. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, among adults aged 20 or more who have variations in their dietary habit and physical activity. Materials and Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted to asses Metabolic syndrome (Met S) by using IDF (Met S -IDF) and NCEP ATP-III criteria (Met S ATP-III) among 1316 individuals in accordance with the Stepwise approach of the World Health Organization. Anthropometric measurements were done, biochemical analysis were carried out using fasting blood and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was determined .The association between Met S and various dietary factors, physical activity and genetic factors were verified using chi-square test and also by regression analysis using SPSS version-19. Results and discussion: The study population comprises different economic, educational and occupational categories with variations in their life style and dietary habits. All kinds of physical activities from heavy exercise to sports /recreation were inversely correlated with the risk of Met S (Met S IDF: Yes=15.6%, No=21% and Met S ATP III: Yes =7.7%, No = 13.3%) as per the prevalence rate. Generally, type of staple food and non vegetarian food habit had no direct association with Met S, but high frequency of non-vegetarian food intake (> 4 days /week) was associated with a greater chance of development of Met S(Met S IDF =56.2% and Met S ATP III=43.7%). Family history had no significant influence on the Metabolic syndrome development ( Met S IDF /Met S ATP-III)as per chi-square analysis. Logistic regression analysis revealed that sedentary life (not doing any kind of physical exercise), and consuming non vegetarian food in excessive quantities (>4days/week) (AOR=1.569; 95%CI=1.290-1.901) were associated with Met S- IDF. Non-vegetarian food in excessive quantities/>4 days/week (AOR=1.749) was associated with Met S ATP-III. Conclusions: Heavy to mild physical activities reduced the risk of being affected with Met S compared to those who follow sedentary mode of life. High frequency non-vegetarian food intake had led to Met S development. Family history of HT/ DM / CVDs had no significant role in developing Met S, but was found to be more of life style origin as far as the study population was concerned.
