Increasing leisure time physical activity is associated with less prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in healthy middle-aged men.

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by a constellation of factors that confer an increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is well-known that physical activity (PA) has a protective role on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, mainly through its favorable effects on traditional risk factors such as body mass and blood pressure (BP). We assessed the prevalence of MetS in a population-based sample of 58-year-old men with respect to leisure-time PA and also to occupational PA. The results showed an inverse linear association (P < .05) between leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and MetS in this group. In conclusion, this study suggests that PA has an important role in controlling MetS.