Arupendra Mozumdar, international exchange scientist, and Gary Liguori, assistant professor of health, nutrition and exercise sciences, had a paper, titled "Occupational Physical Activity and the Metabolic Syndrome Among Working-Women: A Go Red North Dakota Study," accepted for publication in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health.
"Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., while Metabolic Syndrome is the clustering of specific cardiovascular disease risk factors – high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, abnormal cholesterol and elevated waist circumference," Liguori said. "This study examined the association of metabolic syndrome with occupational or work-related physical activity among 642 working women in three North Dakota communities."
The findings suggested that for women with sedentary occupations (mostly sitting), accumulating at least 20 minutes of vigorous activity (three or more days per week) or 30 minutes of moderate activity (five or more days per week) each week is essential to reduce the risk of having the metabolic syndrome. Women in moderate (mostly standing or walking) and heavy working occupations (lifting or carrying loads, or climbing stairs often) may be acquiring sufficient amounts of physical activity to avoid having the metabolic syndrome.