1. The Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome Among Kinesiology Majors in a Predominantly Hispanic Institution
Marsha Davenport, Juan Gonzalez, Eliza Renolla, Daniella Escamilla, Karen S. Chandler, Mark Sanchez, Eric Andrade, Abigail Cartagenas, Layne Jorgensen
Health and Kinesiology Department, College of Education
Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science and Human Services
The University of Texas Pan-American, Edinburg, TX 78539
Results
Equipment and Protocol
The BOD POD is an air displacement plethysmograph that calculates body
composition determined by body densitometry (D=M/V). It measures body
mass on a precise weighing scale and monitors air pressure changes (P1V1 =
P2V2) in a closed chamber to measure volume when a subject sits inside the
BOD POD. Subjects were required to wear tight-fitted clothing (spandex tights
for both genders and sports bra for women) and wear a swimming cap over
their hair during the test.
Approval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) was necessary before collecting data
from 101 subjects. Method of sampling was by recruitment. Subjects were able to
schedule a morning or afternoon appointment between Monday to Friday through the
Human Performance Lab sign-up sheet. The likelihood and magnitude of physical
discomfort experienced by the subjects was small to negligible. This study was completed
in two parts.
Part I: Data was recorded by the student research assistants of the Human Performance
Laboratory at UTPA.
1. Subjects completed a health check questionnaire before obtaining their
physiological and anthropometric measurements in the Human Performance
Laboratory at UTPA.
2. Resting blood pressure was measured in a sitting position using an electronic
sphygmomanometer (OMRON HEM-790IT).
3. Waist, abdominal, and hip circumferences were measured to the nearest 0.01 cm
using a plastic tape measure.
4. Height and weight measurements were taken using the Detecto scale and were
measured to the nearest 0.01 m and 0.01 kg respectively.
5. The Bod Pod was used to obtain percent fat, fat free mass (kg), basal metabolic
rate (kcal/day), and body mass index (kg/m²). Although not included in any of the
five metabolic risk categories, they are essential in finding correlations with other
risk factors (e.g. obesity) associated with metabolic syndrome and in describing the
population being tested.
Part II: Data was obtained through the phlebotomist of the Student Health Services
Center at UTPA.
1. Subjects fasted for at least 12 hours with no alcohol consumption.
2. Serum triglycerides, HDL-C, and fasting glucose levels were obtained via
venipuncture.
To determine the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome among (N=101) Kinesiology Majors
at The University of Texas Pan American (UTPA) a predominately Hispanic institution in
South Texas.
The metabolic syndrome is a complex clinical condition encompassing several metabolic
disorders that serve as precursors to type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, coronary
artery disease, and stroke (Becker et al., 2008). This condition currently affects 25% of
adults over the age of 20 and up to 45% over the age of 50 (Kumar et al., 2013). At this
rate, studies predict that over 40% of the population will possibly be affected by the year
2020, therefore making metabolic syndrome a global health issue (Kumar et al.,
2013). According to Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program adult
treatment panel III criteria of 2004, a person who is diagnosed with the metabolic
syndrome must fulfill three of the five metabolic abnormalities (Sumner et al., 2012):
• Waist circumference ≥ 40 in. for men and ≥ 35 in. for women (central obesity)
• Blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mmHg (hypertension)
• Serum triglycerides (TG) ≥ 150 mg/dL (hypertriglyceridemia)
• Serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ≤ 40 mg/dL for men and
≤ 50 mg/dL for women (dyslipidemia)
• Serum fasting glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL (diabetes mellitus)
Genetics or poor lifestyle choices could contribute to the disorders’ occurrence. This
study expounds on the evidence that the Hispanic population in general has the highest
prevalence of both metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus. Ranking highest in the
nation, the older Mexican-American population located in the Rio Grande Valley has the
highest case of obesity ranging from 55.5-57% (Duran-Gonzalez et al., 2011). In the
younger Mexican-American population of this region, there are growing rates of obesity,
type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Based on these statistics, more preventative
techniques and treatment programs should be implemented in the Hispanic community
to decrease the prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome in the future.
Introduction
Purpose
Methods
Data was collected within a time frame of three months in year 2014. Research began in July (Summer II
semester) until the last week of October (Fall semester). Mean results for males (N=60) and females (N = 41)
pertaining to resting blood pressure, girth measurements, height, total mass, lean mass, % body fat, serum
triglycerides, serum HDL, serum fasting glucose and HbA1C are shown in Table 1. Because BMI is used heavily in
the literature as a means of defining obesity, it was calculated to help define this population of young Hispanic
Kinesiology majors (Muller, M.J, 2008). A BMI of 27.50 for men falls within the overweight range (Huang, T.T.K.
et., 2004). The women in this investigation fell within normal ranges for BMI (Huang, T.T.K. et., 2004).
Although HbA1C is not a standard component for detecting Metabolic Syndrome, it is a detector for
diabetes, which is a possible outcome of Metabolic Syndrome.
Among the 101 participants, 10 of them (Males N=8; Females N=2) demonstrated above normal ranges for at
least three components of metabolic syndrome (Figure 1). Table 2 reveals the means for blood pressure
(mmHg), girth measurements (cm), and blood biomarkers (mg/dL) of those participants. The prevalence of large
waist circumference (11%), low HDL cholesterol (23%), hypertriglyceridemia (6%), high fasting glucose (1%), and
high systolic blood pressure (32%) diastolic blood pressure (14%) as defined in Methods is illustrated in Figure 2.
Compared to women, Figure 3 reveals that there was a higher percentage of men that indicated a large waist
circumference, hypertriglyceridemia, high fasting glucose, and hypertension (P<.05).
Male (N = 8) Female (N = 2)
Blood Pressure (mmHg)
Systolic 140.75±8.68 (3.07) 133.00±4.24 (3.00)
Diastolic 87.00 ±8.25 (2.92) 90.50±6.36 (4.50)
Girth Measurements (cm)
Waist 103.43±7.80 (2.76) 84.14±12.92 (9.84)
Blood Biomarkers
Triglycerides (mg/dL) 194.25±105.87 (37.43) 61.50±12.02 (8.50)
HDL (mg/dL) 38.13±9.52 (3.37) 41.00±8.49 (6.00)
Glucose (mg/dL) 90.75±4.89 (1.73) 91.50±3.54 (2.50)
Conclusion
Although some Kinesiology majors were already showing some elevated values in some of
the components for Metabolic Syndrome, results indicated that on average Kinesiology
majors at a predominately Hispanic institution were below the ranges for Metabolic
Syndrome. In support of these results, Kinesiology majors may have healthier lifestyles
given their major and career choice. However, because of the Hispanic predisposition for
diabetes, coronary heart disease, coronary artery disease, and stroke, early surveillance is
recommended in this college age population. More research needs to be done on Hispanic
Kinesiology majors in order get a better understanding of their overall health and
ultimately better educate them about metabolic syndrome because many of these majors
will be in a leadership role in our public school system with younger children.
1. Becker, B.-M., Bromme, R., & Jucks, R. (2008). College students' knowledge of concepts related to the metabolic syndrome. Psychology,
Health & Medicine, 13(3), 367-379. doi:10.1080/13548500701405525
2. Duran-Gonzalez, J., Ortiz, I., Gonzales, E., Ruiz, N., Ortiz, M., Gonzalez, A., . . . Nair, S. (2011). Association Study of Candidate Gene
Polymorphisms and Obesity in a Young Mexican-American Population from South Texas. Archives of Medical Research, 42, 523-231.
doi:10.1016/j.arcmed.2011.10.010
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Journal of American College Health, 39(4), 313-321. doi:10.1080/07448481.2010.508084
4. Geer E. B., and Shen W. (2009). Gender Differences in Insulin Resistance, Body Composition, and Energy Balance. Gender Medicine,
6(supplement 1), 60-75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.genm.2009.02.002
5. Huang, T.T.K., Kempf, A.M., Strother, M.L., Li, C.L., Lee, R.E., Harris, K.J., Kuar, H. (2004). Overweight and Components of the Metabolic
Syndrome in College Students. American Diabetes Association, 27(12).
6. Kumar, J. V., Vishal, B., & Nema , R. K. (2013). A Review on the Metabolic Syndrome Plethora of Disease. Advances in Pharmocology &
Toxicology, 14(2), 29-42.
7. Muller, M.J. (2008) Obesity. Encyclopedia of Public Health. New York: Springer; 1005-1008.
8. Sumner, A. D., Sardi, G. L., & Reed III, J. F. (2012). Components of the Metabolic Syndrome Differ Between Young and Old Adults in the US
Population. The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 14(8), 502-506. doi:10.1111/j.1751-7176.2012.00647.x
9. Topè, A., & Rogers, P. (2013). Metabolic Syndrome among Students Attending a HIstorically Black College: Prevalence and Gender
Differences. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved December 9, 2014, from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3556146/
Due to scarcity of data, there is an urgent need for more research to be conducted on the Hispanic
population which focuses on environmental, socioeconomic factors, and genetic factors that
contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome and its individual components.
Our investigation did not break down subjects by the year they were in college. This information in
future studies may prove insightful to follow possible trends in South Texas. Results from the
current investigation indicated low HDL values and low triglyceride values for both male and
female. The trend in our data demonstrated that although some Kinesiology majors were below
the systolic and diastolic values for elevated blood pressure, some demonstrated elevated systolic
and diastolic values (Table 1). Our study found were gender differences between male and female
results in all tested values within our investigation (P=.01). Men are known to have a higher lean
muscle mass and central fat distribution, whereas women have higher adiposity distributed
peripherally in the limbs and hips, particularly in the lower body (Geer and Shen, 2009). Although
body composition and Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) are not one of the five components for Metabolic
Syndrome, it was used in the current investigation to further elucidate the profile for the
population under investigation. The following points demonstrate previous findings from studies
involving metabolic syndrome:
• The University of New Hampshire (2007) found that among 800 students, 60% of males and
50% of females had at least one of the risk factors.
• Fernandez and Lofgren (2011) found that 3.7% of their sample (16% Kinesiology majors, 27%
other Allied Health majors, and 57% other) had at least one of the five criteria, and 7.4% had
2 criteria. The most prevalent criteria were low serum HDL (20.1%).
• In a study of 376 (218 female and 158 male) students at Kentucky State University, a
predominantly African American college, 12% of students were diagnosed with metabolic
syndrome. A high rate of 28.4% females and 35.4% males had at least one of the risk factors
(Topè and Rogers 2013).
Future Work
References
Metabolic Syndrome
Among Kinesiology
Majors
Metabolic Syndrome
Among Kinesiology
Faculty
Metabolic Syndrome
Among Colleges in
UTRGV
Discussion
Male (N = 60) Female (N = 41)
Blood Pressure (mmHg)
*Systolic 128.48 ± 12.33 (1.53) 108.09 ± 10.66 (1.63)
*Diastolic 76.95 ± 8.89 (1.10) 71.12 ± 8.72 (1.33)
Girth Measurements (cm)
*Waist 91.42 ± 8.85 (1.14) 77.10 ± 6.97 (1.09)
Height (m) 1.73 ± 0.07 (0.01) 1.62 ± 0.06 (0.01)
Total mass (kg) 81.83 ± 14.43 (1.78) 64.23 ± 11.18 (1.80)
Lean mass (kg) 64.80 ± 9.76 (1.21) 45.47 ± 7.24 (1.10)
Body Fat (%) 20.34 ± 9.13 (1.13) 29.1 ± 8.17 (1.25)
BMI 27.50 ± 4.27 (0.53) 24.56 ± 4.39 (0.67)
Blood Biomarkers
*Triglycerides(mg/dL) 91.96 ± 63.96 (8.79) 63.26 ± 23.13 (4.15)
*HDL (mg/dL) 52.17 ± 14.24 (1.96) 56.45 ± 14.09 (2.53)
*Glucose (mg/dL) 88.91 ± 8.00 (1.10) 84.97 ± 6.84 (1.23)
HbA1C (%) 5.33 ± 0.29 (0.04) 5.46 ± 0.28 (0.05)
Table 2. Above average ranges for Males (N=8) and Females (N=2) according to the
Metabolic Syndrome components. Values are expressed μ ± σ (SEM).
Table 1. Mean ranges for Males (N=60) and Females (N=41) pertaining to the
components of Metabolic Syndrome, fat vs lean mass, and HbA1C levels. Values are
expressed μ ± σ (SEM).
51%
27%
12% 10%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
0 1 2 ≥3
Prevalence(%)
Number of Components
11%
23%
6%
1%
32%
14%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Large WC Low HDL High TG High FG High SBP High DBP
Prevalence(%)
Abnormalities
Figure 1. Prevalence of Kinesiology majors with
zero, one, two, or three or more components of
the metabolic syndrome (N=101).
Figure 2. Prevalence of Kinesiology majors that
possess the individual components of the
metabolic syndrome (N=101).
Figure 3. Prevalence comparison between male
Kinesiology Majors (N=60) and female Kinesiology
Majors (N=41) that possess the individual
components of the metabolic syndrome.