Factors associated with metabolic syndrome among Korean office workers

To assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and identify risk factors associated with MetS among Korean office workers, this cross-sectional study was conducted with 776 office workers. The prevalence of MetS was 13.5%; elevated waist circumference (27.5%), elevated fasting glucose (23.1%), elevated triglycerides (22.2%), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (13.4%), and elevated BP (9.4%). Having any medical health problems (OR = 3.98, 95% CI: 2.01-7.85), more knowledge of MetS (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.02-1.56), higher BMI (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.30-1.57), current smoking (OR = 3.78, 95% CI: 1.04-13.73), and physical inactivity (OR = 3.22, 95% CI: 1.21-8.58) were significantly associated with increased likelihood of MetS. Addressing the influence of these factors on MetS could lead to the development of workplace-based intervention strategies to encourage lifestyle changes and prevent the risk of MetS among Korean office workers.