Effects of Lifestyle Intervention on Physiological Outcomes in Chinese Adults With, or at High Risk of, Metabolic Syndrome

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) increases the risk of cardiovascular events and the development of diabetes. This article reports the effects of lifestyle intervention on the physiological outcomes of people with or at high risk of MS in the community setting of Hong Kong. Methods: Chinese adults with 2 or more MS components were recruited from 13 community centers, which were cluster-randomized to the intervention or control group. The intervention group received a low-intensity lifestyle intervention program for people with MS consisting of group sessions, individual counseling, and telephone follow-ups over 3 months. The control group received standard care plus an attention placebo. The primary outcomes were body weight and waist circumference, whereas the secondary outcomes included blood pressure, lipids, glucose, and number of MS components. Linear mixed-effects models were used to compare the effects of the program between the 2 groups. Results: The final sample consisted of 183 adults (19.1% male) with a mean (SD) age of 54.0 (7.8) years. At 3 months, overall MS prevalence was reduced to 13.8%. Compared with the control group, subjects in the intervention group exhibited a reduced waist circumference (beta = -.146, P = .008) when the interaction effects of time and group were considered simultaneously. However, no significant differences were found for changes in the other measured outcomes. Conclusion: A low-intensity lifestyle intervention program for people with MS can reduce central obesity among people with or at high risk for MS. Further research is necessary to confirm the long-term physiological effects of the intervention.