Association of physical activity and sedentary behavior with metabolic syndrome and its components among older adults: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study is to examine the independent and combined associations of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) with metabolic syndrome (MS) components in older adults. This cross-sectional study included 473 older adults aged ≥60 years, living in the urban area of ​​the municipality of Alcobaça, Brazil, and enrolled in the municipality's Family Health Strategy. Sociodemographic information, anthropometric measurements, laboratory and behavioral data were collected. The prevalence of MS was 52.8%. Longer time spent in SB was associated with central obesity (OR 2.85; 95% CI: 1.52-5.25) and hypertension (OR 1.86; 95% CI: 1.23-2.85). In the combined analysis, insufficiently active older adults with longer SB time were more likely to have two (OR 3.90; 95% CI: 1.46-10.42) to four (OR 4.18; 95% CI: 1.12-15.62) components. Even sufficiently active older adults with longer SB time had higher odds of central obesity (OR 3.44; 95% CI: 1.51-7.87), hypertension (OR 2.30; 95% CI: 1.30-4.05), and low HDL-c levels (OR 1.84; 95% CI: 1.03-3.28). SB is a determining factor in the prevalence of MS in older adults, with implications for public health policies that promote frequent interruptions of sedentary time and encourage regular PA.