NEWS Fitness and Nutrition News Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Prevent Metabolic Syndrome, Study Finds By Cara Rosenbloom, RD Cara Rosenbloom, RD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Cara Rosenbloom RD is a dietitian, journalist, book author, and the founder of Words to Eat By, a nutrition communications company in Toronto, ON. Learn about our editorial process Published on April 27, 2021 Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Daniella Amato Fact checked by Daniella Amato Daniella Amato is a biomedical scientist and fact checker with expertise in pharmaceuticals and clinical research. Learn about our editorial process Print Getty Images Key Takeaways: A new study examined whether adhering to exercise or nutrition guidelines—or both—can help lower the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS).The researchers found that sticking to physical activity and dietary guidelines in middle adulthood lowers the risk of MetS now and later in life.The findings show that while physical activity and a healthy diet can each individually reduce the risk of MetS, the combination of both shows even better results. Past studies have shown that either physical activity or a healthy diet can help lower the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS). But a new study published in Journal of the American Heart Association wanted to see if the combination of physical activity and a healthy diet pattern could have a synergistic effect on lowering the risk for MetS. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a grouping of five conditions that can lead to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and other chronic conditions. MetS is diagnosed if someone has three or more of these five risk factors: High blood sugar levels Low HDL (good) cholesterol levels High triglyceride levels Large waist circumference High blood pressure Studies show that healthy lifestyles can help manage these conditions and slow the progression towards MetS. Getting enough physical activity and eating and healthy, balanced diet are recommended for the prevention of MetS at all ages. In this new study, researchers looked at how Americans who adhere to the Physical Activity Guidelines (PAG) for Americans and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) fare with MetS both now and in later life. They were also curious whether adhering to both the PAG and DGA in midlife would have a synergistic effect on heart health in later life. The Study Explained This study utilized the comprehensive Framingham Heart Study database and looked at 2,379 participants with a mean age of 47 years. Researchers gathered data on how closely the participants adhere to the following guidelines: The 2018 PAG: For heart disease prevention, the PAG recommends a weekly minimum of 150 minutes of moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity for adults age 18+. In the study, adherence to the PAG was measured as ≥150 min/week of physical activity. 2015 DGA: To prevent chronic disease, the DGA suggest adhering to a high‐quality healthy dietary pattern. Participants were given a DGA Adherence score between 0-100, with higher scores showing higher diet quality. Data on physical activity was obtained by having participants wear an omni-directional accelerometer, which measures acceleration. Dietary intake was measured using a food frequency questionnaire, which included questions about the intake of 150 food items over a one year time frame. What Did the Study Find? The researchers found that about half of participants got ≥150 minutes of physical activity per week, and the average DGA score was 61 (out of 100). In total, 28 percent of participants met both the physical activity recommendation of the DAG and adhered to the dietary guidelines. In follow-up over eight years, about 18 percent of participants developed MetS. The researchers noted that those who met the PAG and had higher adherence to the DGA had lower odds of developing MetS, both at the time of the study and in the eight years of follow up. Using statistical analysis, the researchers noted that every 10 minutes of exercise per day or every 10‐point increase in DGA adherence was associated with 18-19% lower odds of prevalent MetS. Emma Backes, RDN, LD Too often, people focus on exercise OR a healthy diet, but real changes are happening when people focus on exercise AND nutrition. — Emma Backes, RDN, LD The researchers say that they observed a 52 percent lower risk of MetS in individuals who adhered to both guidelines compared with those who don’t follow the guidelines. The study concluded that adhering to either the DAG and DGA was individually associated with lower odds of prevalent MetS, but adhering to both guidelines was associated with the lowest odds of MetS. “Regarding the results of the study, it is exactly what I would expect to see,” says dietitian and personal trainer Emma Backes, of Saint Cloud, Minnesota. “Too often, people focus on exercise OR a healthy diet, but real changes are happening when people focus on exercise AND nutrition,” explains Backes. The study supports the idea that maintaining both regular physical activity and a healthy diet in midlife can help protect heart health now and in later life. One caveat: the study participants were all white individuals of European ancestry, which limits the ability to generalize the findings to other racial groups. Further studies are needed with a multi-ethnic sample. A Stair Test Can Help Assess Heart Health at Home, Study Says Dietary Advice The updated 2020-2025 DGA outlines a diet plan that includes an emphasis on nutrient-rich foods including vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, calcium-rich options, protein foods and healthy oils. Anthony DiMarino RD, a dietitian and certified personal trainer from Cleveland, OH says he helps his clients focus on moderation and making wise choices. “I recommend that my clients follow a sensible, common sense meal plan,” says DiMarino. Anthony DiMarino Individuals who are concerned with their heart health should limit food items high in sugars, salts, and saturated fats. — Anthony DiMarino In line with the DGAs, DiMarino focuses on vegetables, nuts/seeds, oils, whole grains, whole fruits, low-fat dairy products and lean meats. “Individuals who are concerned with their heart health should limit food items high in sugars, salts, and saturated fats,” says DiMarino. He cites examples including potato chips, candies, cookies, fried foods, and processed meats. Eliminating Inflammatory Foods Could Prevent Heart Disease Stay Active The PAG encourages adults to move more and sit less throughout the day. Specifically, it recommends at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) a week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, preferably spread throughout the week. Additional health benefits are gained by getting even more physical activity. In addition to aerobic activity, such as walking, dancing or swimming, adults should also do muscle-strengthening activities at least twice a week. “With my clients, I like to focus on the two-fold benefits of physical activity,” says Backes. “Physical activity can improve mental and physical well-being. I like to promote it as a form of self-care that can yield some awesome benefits.” Backes tells clients that exercise is not an “all or nothing” idea, and even 20 minutes of movement is great on days when they cannot get in a full workout. “I recommend clients complete 2-3 days of strength-based training along with cardio 2-3 as well,” says Backes. “I also promote stretching/yoga at least 1 day per week.” Di Marino recommends his clients find exercise that they enjoy and can do consistently. “We discuss their favorite movements and how they can implement them into their busy lives,” says DiMarino. What This Means For You: To protect your heart health now and into the future, aim for 150 minutes of physical activity each week, and follow the eating plan as described in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Study Shows Young People Developing Metabolic Syndrome at Higher Rates Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get one simple hack every day to make your life healthier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 5 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Fogli-Cawley JJ, Dwyer JT, Saltzman E, et al. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and risk of the metabolic syndrome. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2007;86(4):1193-1201. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/86.4.1193 Clarke J, Janssen I. Sporadic and bouted physical activity and the metabolic syndrome in adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2014;46(1):76-83. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e31829f83a0 Lee Joowon, Walker Maura E., Bourdillon Maximillian T., et al. Conjoint associations of adherence to physical activity and dietary guidelines with cardiometabolic health: the framingham heart study. Journal of the American Heart Association. 2021;10(7):e019800. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.120.019800 Alberti K.G.M.M., Eckel Robert H., Grundy Scott M., et al. Harmonizing the metabolic syndrome. Circulation. 2009;120(16):1640-1645. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.192644. Grundy Scott M., Cleeman James I., Daniels Stephen R., et al. Diagnosis and management of the metabolic syndrome. Circulation. 2005;112(17):2735-2752. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.169404