Gender and Age Discrepancies of Lifestyle Indices Related to Metabolic Syndrome among Iranian Aging Population.

Background: We aimed to investigate the relationship between lifestyle status and metabolic syndrome (MetS) components across gender and age groups of the older population, specifically focusing on identifying the association between MetS and lifestyle factors in classified age groups in older individuals.

Methods: Overall, 582 older people with MetS in Yazd (Iran) urban primary health care centers were randomly included from 10 health centers and invited to participate in the study in 2022. During the phone invitation, eligible interested people were asked to refer to health care centers for clinical assessments by trained health researchers. MetS components, dietary intakes using validated frequency food questionnaire, and physical activity by International physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ-short form) were measured.

Results: Women with Mets under 75 yr had significantly higher BMI, weight, and FBS than men and men had significantly higher WC than women. Among patients over 75 yr old, women had significantly higher weight than men had and lower WC and lower HDL_C than men. There were significant differences between gender groups of the aging patient under 75 yr old in terms of vigorous physical activity, total metabolic equivalent of activity, total fat intake, PUFA, and sodium intake, with men reporting level of mentioned lifestyle factors than women.

Conclusion: There were significant gender differences between two aged groups (>75 and <75 yr old) of patients for MetS components and lifestyle risk factors. Weight and WC showed noteworthy gender differences, with variations in both age groups.