Commuting physical activity and prevalence of metabolic disorders in Poland

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between walking or cycling to work and prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components.

Cross-sectional analysis of 6401 randomly selected individuals (3297 men and 3104 women) aged 20-74 years, who participated in the National Multicentre Health Survey WOBASZ, Poland (2002-2005). Commuting physical activity (PA) was assessed by asking about type and time spent on transportation to/from work using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Weight, height, waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglycerides (TG) and high-density cholesterol, (HDL-C) were measured by standard methods. MetS was defined according to the NCEP-ATP III and IDF criteria.

Active commuting was associated with decreased likelihood of abdominal obesity (WC≥94 cm), lower HDL-C and elevated TG in men and abdominal obesity (WC≥80 cm) in women. In a subgroup of postmenopausal women (n=317) active commuting was favourably associated with abdominal obesity, low HDL-C and elevated FPG. Prevalence of MetS was significantly lower among those who spent above 30 min/day daily on walking/cycling to work than among other gender subgroups.

Increasing of commuting PA level may have an important influence on reducing the prevalence of metabolic disorders.