Abstract

A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the physical activity level among 201 adults with abdominal obesity at the Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. Socio-demographic information, anthropometric data, blood pressure and lipoprotein-lipid profiles were collected. Steps/day and energy expenditure were determined by Lifecorder e-Step accelerometer. Mean steps/day of the subjects was 6420±2283. The total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) averaged 2015±307 kcal. Based on step counts, 91.5% of the subjects fell below the “active” category but based on physical activity level (PAL), 97.0% fell under the “low active” or “sedentary”. Individuals with abdominal obesity in this study were relatively sedentary. Significant positive correlations were found between TDEE and body mass index (men: r=0.428, p=0.0001; women: r=0.556, p=0.0001), waist circumference (men: r=0.508, p=0.0001; women: r=0.340, p=0.0001) and percentage of body fat (men: r=0.261, 0.028; women: r=0.414, 0.0001). There was an inverse relationship between physical activity level and the odds of having metabolic syndrome. However, most of the variables studied did not vary between physical activity categories. Verf.-Referat