Counting Footsteps with a Pedometer to Improve HMW Adiponectin and Metabolic Syndrome among Young Female Adults in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Introduction Physical activity (PA) may improve cardiometabolic fitness and increase high-molecular-weight adiponectin (HMW-Adip). The pedometer is an effective, user-friendly device to monitor PA with the aim of improving health. This study examined how counting footsteps, using a pedometer, might affect HMW-Adip and MetS components among young females. Methods Fifty-two females (21.43 ± 4.8 years) were divided into “normal” (BMI = 18–24.9 kg/m2) and “high” (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) BMI groups. Participants wore pedometers throughout the day for nine weeks. Pre-post intervention tests performed on anthropometric, biochemical, and nutrient intake variables were tested at p ≤ 0.05. Results Participants walked 7056 ± 1570 footsteps/day without a significant difference between normal (7488.49 ± 1098) and high (6739.18 ± 1793) BMI groups. After week 9, the normal BMI group improved significantly in BMI, body fat mass (BFM), and waist-hip ratio (WHR). Additionally, percent body fat, waist circumference (WC), and visceral fat area also reduced significantly in the high BMI group. A significant decrease in triglycerides (TG) (71.62 ± 29.22 vs. 62.50 ± 29.16 mg/dl, p=0.003) and insulin (21.7 ± 8.33 µU/l vs. 18.64 ± 8.25 µU/l, p=0.046) and increase in HMW-Adip (3.77 ± 0.46 vs. 3.80 ± 0.44 μg/ml, p=0.034) were recorded in the high BMI group. All participants exhibited significant inverse correlations between daily footsteps and BMI (r=−0.33, p=0.017), BFM (r=−0.29, p=0.037), WHR (r=−0.401, p=0.003), and MetS score (r=−0.49, p < 0.001) and positive correlation with HMW-Adip (r=0.331, p=0.017). A positive correlation with systolic (r=0.46, p=0.011) and diastolic (r=0.39, p=0.031) blood pressures and inverse correlation with the MetS score (r=−0.5, p=0.005) were evident in the high BMI group. Conclusion Counting footsteps using a pedometer is effective in improving MetS components (obesity, TG) and increasing HMW-Adip levels.

Beneficios de la podometría en la prevención de factores de riesgo cardiovascular

“…La media de pasos realizados en general fue de 7056 diarios. En el caso de la PAS y PAD, en ambos grupos, no se evidenciaron cambios significativos (113,79 vs 114,4 mmHg) y (75,38 vs 74,9 mmHg), respectivamente, debido a que todas las participantes eran normotensas 8 . Esto se explica mediante la ley de valores iniciales donde a mayor presión arterial en reposo mayor disminución se presenta tras la actividad física 35 .…”

“…Por eso se recomienda esta actividad monitoreada con podómetro porque al observar la cuantificación de pasos y recibir una retroalimentación inmediata, incentiva a realizar AF diaria y aumentar gradualmente el número de pasos diarios, provocando así un gasto energético constante 8 . A diferencia de la población con IMC normal, ya que presentan una mejor condición física, requieren de una actividad de mayor intensidad con el fin de obtener resultados significativos 43 .…”

“…Mientras que la realización de actividad física (AF) es una medida eficaz de prevención primaria y secundaria en más de 25 enfermedades crónicas, entre ellas las ECV 7 . Sin embargo, aunque se conocen los beneficios que brinda a la salud, la mayoría de personas presentan dificultades para involucrarse en ejercicios estructurados y supervisados comparado con lo que se realiza dentro de la rutina diaria 8 .…”

Health-Associated Nutrition and Exercise Behaviors in Relation to Metabolic Risk Factors Stratified by Body Mass Index

“…Existing studies clarifying the relationships of nutrition and exercise with lower CVD-related MRFs for each level of body mass index (BMI) are especially scant. Among these limited studies, BMI levels were classified into merely two or three subgroups [ 34 , 35 ]. A comprehensive understanding of the role of BMI level in the relationships between healthy behaviors and MRFs is needed.…”

Time to Step It Up: Mobile Health Intervention for Lifestyle Modification in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

“…Though this result is disappointing, it may be explained in part by the finding of minimal change in the median step count at the end of the intervention period, implying the study population continued to meet step count-based definitions of physical inactivity and that no large-scale activity changes occurred [8]. Given the success of fitness activity tracker use, oftentimes without mHealth application pairing, to increase daily step count in other physically inactive populations, including those with metabolic disease [9], and the fact that for each 1,000 step/d increase there is a 5% reduction in overall mortality [10], this low-resource intervention should be effective in patients with NAFLD. Given the feasibility and acceptability data presented by Tincopa et al, the medical community awaits larger-scale studies designed to definitively address the value of fitness activity tracker use paired with mHealth application in increasing daily step count, preferably in parallel with modest weight loss.…”