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Metabolic syndrome, physical activity and diet in early postpartum women

Metabolic syndrome (MS) includes a cluster of risk factors for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this research was to study the relationships of physical activity and diet with MS in early postpartum. At 1–4 months after childbirth, anthropometrics, blood pressure, blood lipids glucose and insulin were measured in 141 low income women. Physical activity level was assessed by pedometers, and diet, by a 195‐item food frequency questionnaire. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. The incidence of MS was 34.3%, 35.6% and 16.1% for subjects 18–25, 26–30 and 31+ yrs, respectively. Low serum HDL‐cholesterol was the best predictor of metabolic syndrome (R2= 0.315, p<0.01). Physical activity was inversely related to MS and insulin resistance via HOMA (p<0.05). Women with MS had fewer daily servings of fruits (2.7 vs 3.1) and vegetables (4 vs 5.6) than those without MS (p<0.05). Vegetable intake was negatively associated with systolic blood pressure (r=−0.23, p<0.05). Metabolic syndrome was not related to intakes of other food groups. In summary, MS was quite prevalent in these relatively young low‐income women in early postpartum and associated with less physical activity and reduced consumption of fruits and vegetables. Supported by TX Coordinating Board, # UTA00‐377.