PREVALENCE OF METABOLIC SYNDROME, URIC ACID AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG FORMER ATHLETES IN SAUDI ARABIA

Abstract

This study aims to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, overweight and obesity, uric acid, and physical activity among former athletes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A total number of 75 former athletes and 26 non-athletes, aged between 26 and 60 years old, participated in this study. Height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, and blood samples were collected by the researcher while physical activity levels were reported by the participants. The study results reported that 52% of former athletes had metabolic syndrome. In addition, 32% of former athletes had high level of uric acid. The prevalence of low physical activity among former athletes was 33.33%. Moreover, the study results showed that 38.61% of former athletes had metabolic syndrome and 17.82% of non-athletes had metabolic syndrome. The study also showed that 31.68% of former athletes were overweight and 26.73% were obese. However, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among non-athletes was 9.90%. The results showed that 23.76% of former athletes had high levels of uric acid, whereas 14.85% of non-athletes had high levels of uric acid. According to the study findings, 28% of former athletes participated in high physical activity, 38.67% in moderate physical activity, and 33.33% in low physical activity, while 19.23% of non-athletes participated in high physical activity, 38.46% in moderate physical activity, and 42.31% in low physical activity. Former athletes had a lower mean body mass index, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, diastolic blood pressure, and uric acid than non-athletes; in addition, former athletes had a higher mean of high-density lipoprotein. However, former athletes had both a higher mean systolic blood pressure and triglycerides than non-athletes. According to the study findings, body mass index, age, physical activity levels, fast foods have a significant effect on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. The current study showed that no correlation was observed between body mass index and uric acid and all the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Former athletes should focus on attaining a healthy body mass index after retirement through a high to moderate intensity of physical activity and neutral energy balance in order to curb the chances of developing metabolic syndrome.