Effects of physical fitness training on metabolic syndrome among military personnel in Taiwan - PubMed (original) (raw)

Observational Study

Effects of physical fitness training on metabolic syndrome among military personnel in Taiwan

Che-Fu Chang et al. BMJ Mil Health. 2023 May.

Abstract

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes but can be prevented with regular physical activity. This study aimed to assess the impact of a physical fitness training programme on MS among military personnel.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included volunteer army soldiers who underwent annual health examinations between 2011 and 2014. In 2011, the reformed physical fitness training programme and physical fitness test were introduced to the participants. MS evaluation and physical fitness performances were evaluated before and after implementing the training programme using a mixed-effects model and generalised estimating equation, adjusted for sex, age and smoking.

Results: From 2011 to 2014, 1720 soldiers underwent the annual health examination. In 2011, before the fitness programme, 246 soldiers (14.3%) had MS. After implementation, decreases in blood pressure and fasting glucose levels were observed and maintained for 3 years. Running performance was negatively correlated to triglycerides (ß=-11.37; p<0.001) and waist circumference (ß=-0.42; p<0.001) and positively correlated to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (ß=2.14; p<0.001). The severity of MS was reduced following introduction of the physical fitness programme.

Conclusions: MS and its components improved after introducing the reformed fitness programme, with running performance proving to be most relevant to MS. Clinicians should encourage increased physical activity to prevent MS among military personnel.

Keywords: epidemiology; public health; sports medicine.

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Study design. Volunteer soldiers completed the annual health check-up and the physical fitness tests in 2011, participated in the modified physical fitness programme, received annual health check-up results and were tested using the modified test standards from 2012 to 2014

Figure 2

Figure 2

Prevalence of MS. The prevalence rate of MS was reduced in 2012 compared with that in 2011. Later on, such prevalence increased with age but generally remained lower than that in 2011. MS, metabolic syndrome.

Figure 3

Figure 3

Age-specific prevalence of metabolic syndrome in (A) men and (B) women.

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