The Roles of Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness on the Relationship between Eating Speed and Metabolic Syndrome in College Students

PURPOSE: This study investigated whether physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) modulate the relationship between eating speed and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean university students.METHODS: A total of 1,071 college students 751 males and 320 females participated in this study. The volume of PA (minutes per week) assessed by a self-reported questionnaire was classified as sufficient or insufficient based on the global recommendation of 150 minutes per week. Self-reported eating speed was classified as normal or fast. CRF was classified as low (lowest 25%), moderate (middle 50%), and high (highest 25%) based on the maximum volume of oxygen consumption determined during a graded treadmill running.RESULTS: Bivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of fast eating for metabolic syndrome was 1.94 (95% confidence interval, CI=1.34-2.82, p<.001) in the total group and 1.75 (95% CI=1.18-2.59, p=.005) in male students only. Logistic regression showed that in the total group, fasting eating was associated with an increased risk of MetS (OR=1.780, 95% CI=1.223-2.259, p=.003) compared to individuals with normal eating speed (OR=1) even after adjustments for age, sex, smoking, and alcohol intake. Additionally, male students with fast eating were at increased risk of MetS (OR=1.750, 95% CI=1.181-2.529, p=.005) compared to their counterparts with normal eating speed even after adjustments for all the covariates. Moderation analyses by Andrew F. Hayes showed that the effect of eating speed on MetS risk differed by physical activity (β=-0.389, 95% CI=-0.706- 0.071, p=.017) and CRF levels (β=-0.307, 95% CI=-0.496-0.118, p=.002) even after adjustments for all the covariates.CONCLUSIONS: The current findings of the study suggest that both regular PA and CRF can play a preventive role against MetS associated with fast eating in Korean college students.