Zeitschrift für Ernährung und Lebensmittelwissenschaften
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Abstrakt

Physical Activity and Metabolic Risk Factors among Jamaican Adolescents

Sheila Barrett, Fatma Huffman, Paulette Johnson, Adriana Campa, Marcia Magnus and Dalip Rgoobirsingh

The study examined relationships between physical activity (PA) and Metabolic Syndrome (METS) in Jamaican adolescents. A descriptive, cross-sectional survey examined 276 students from 10 Jamaican high schools. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria determined the metabolic risks. The Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children measured PA levels. Mean age was 15.6 (± 1.2). Percentage of subjects classified with METS varied by criterion used; IDF (6.9%) and NCEP (12.4%). While 56% of the subjects classified with METS were physically inactive, logistic regression showed no relationships between PA and individual METS risk factors overall (p>0.05). Females were 15 times less physically active and had significantly (p<0.05) higher waist circumference (WC) than males, whereas, males had significantly (p<0.05) higher fasting blood glucose levels. Although urban adolescents had higher PA than rural adolescents, they had significantly (p<0.05) higher WC; one of the determinants of METS by IDF’s standard. Similarly, under the IDF’s classification, Blacks had significantly higher numbers of METS risk factors (p<0.05) compared to non-Blacks. Jamaican adolescents are at risk for METS irrespective of levels of PA. Living in urban areas, being female, and being Black increased the risk for METS. NCEP guidelines classified more subjects with METS compared with IDF’s. Intervention measures are needed to reduce METS risk factors among this population.