The Relationship Of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors With Leisure-time, Occupational And Transportation Physical Activity Among College Students

Regular physical activity (PA) participation is protective against cardiometabolic risk, though the majority of studies examining these relationships have only included leisure-time PA (LTPA). The relationship between different domains of PA and cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF) among young adults is unknown. PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between CMRF and LTPA, occupational (OPA), and transportation (TPA) activity by gender among college students. METHODS: A volunteer sample of students from a large Northeastern USA university completed a comprehensive health assessment (blood pressure (BP), body composition, fasting blood glucose and lipids) and a self-report survey (demographics, Global Physical Activity Questionnaire [LTPA, OPA, TPA, overall PA]). Descriptive statistics described the sample, chi-square and t-tests and examined the differences between CMRF (hypertension, dyslipidemia, elevated blood glucose, waist circumference) and PA for men and women separately. RESULTS: Participants (n = 457) were predominately male (n = 319, 69.8%) and Non-Hispanic White (n = 295, 65.4%). Men reported greater OPA, LTPA and overall PA (p’s < 0.05) compared with women, though had significantly more CMRF. Compared with women, men were more likely to have several CMRF: high waist circumference (χ2 = 7.71, p < .001), elevated total cholesterol/HDL ratio (χ2 = 11.10, p < .001), elevated systolic blood pressure (χ2 = 4.86, p = .02), elevated triglycerides (χ2 = 102.07 p < .001). Among men, TPA was related to elevated systolic blood pressure risk (t = 2.93, p = .03) and high waist circumference risk (t = 1.76, p = .04), overall PA was related to total cholesterol/HDL ratio risk (t = 1.70, p = .05). Among women, LTPA and TPA were related to a high waist circumference risk (t = 1.77, p = .04; t = 1.68, p = .04) and overall PA was related to total cholesterol/HDL ratio risk (t = 1.86, p = .03) and elevated glucose (t = 2.02, p = .02). CONCLUSION: CMRF and PA types varied significantly by gender. There were varying relationships between risk factors and LTPA, TPA, and OPA. Health and PA disparities are present in this population and it is essential to determine how different types of PA can contribute to CM risk. Further studies examining a link between CMRF and PA behavior should consider measuring multiple domains of PA.