Aims: The aim of this study is to find factors associated with metabolic syndrome in obese individuals and thus offer guidance to stay metabolically healthy if obese.
Methods: A cardiovascular screening programme performed in Finland during the years 2005-2007, identified 901 obese white individuals. Of them, 269 (30%) were metabolically healthy according to the Harmonization criteria of metabolic syndrome.
Results: In multivariate logistic regression analysis, male sex [odds ratio (OR) 1.44 (95% CI 1.01-2.07)], living alone [OR 1.77 (95% CI 1.18-2.65)], physical inactivity [OR 3.73 (95% CI 1.24-11.24)], and use of betablockers [OR 2.63 (95% CI 1.75-3.95)] were associated with metabolic syndrome.
Conclusions: Even mild or occasional physical exercise is beneficial to health in obese individuals. Betablockers may not be the antihypertensive agents of choice when treating obese hypertensive individuals.
Keywords: Metabolic syndrome; Obesity; Physical activity.
Copyright © 2014 Primary Care Diabetes Europe. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.