Metabolic Syndrome and Physical Activity Levels in College Students

It is estimated that >30% of young adults attending college are overweight or obese and do not participate in enough physical activity (PA) to maintain a healthy body mass. Many of the known risk factors that are often associated with obesity also place an individual at risk for developing metabolic syndrome (MetS). The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of MetS and the magnitude and rate of PA levels in college students. Seventy-six college-aged students participated in the study. The following information was obtained from each participant: body anthropometrics, fasting glucose and lipoproteins, and accelerometer-measured activity levels. Participants wore, at the waist, the wireless activity monitor (wGT3X-BT; ActiGraph, Pensacola, FL) for seven consecutive days to monitor PA levels. MetS was determined if the participant met three of the five criteria utilizing the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines. More than half of the participants had at least one criterion, with the overall prevalence of MetS being 9.2%. MetS participants were more sedentary (84.8% vs. 91.0%, P < 0.001) and engaged in less light activities (8.9% vs. 6.0%, P < 0.001). Current activity levels in college students do not meet the established guidelines for total steps per day, elevating the risk of acquiring metabolic disorders.