Chen, MuHe, MeianMin, XinwenPan, AnZhang, XiaominYao, PingLi, XiulouLiu, YueweiYuan, JingChen, WeihongZhou, LiFang, WeiminLiang, YuanWang, YoujieMiao, XiaopingLang, MingjianZhang, PengLi, DongfengGuo, HuanYang, HandongHu, FrankWu, Tangchun2013-08-012013Chen, Mu, Meian He, Xinwen Min, An Pan, Xiaomin Zhang, Ping Yao, Xiulou Li, et al. 2013. Different physical activity subtypes and risk of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older chinese people. PLoS ONE 8(1): e53258.1932-6203http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:10908602Background: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is growing rapidly in China. Tai chi and dancing are common types of exercise among middle-aged and elderly Chinese. It remains unclear whether these activities are associated with a lower risk of MetS. Methodology/Principal Findings A total of 15,514 individuals (6,952 men, 8,562 women) aged 50 to 70 years from the Dongfeng-Tongji Cohort in Shiyan, China participated in a cross-sectional study. Physical activity and other lifestyle factors were assessed with semi-structured questionnaires during face-to-face interviews. MetS was defined by the current National Cholesterol Education Program/Adult treatment Panel III criteria for Asian Americans. The prevalence of MetS was 33.2% in the study population. In the multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses, total physical activity levels were monotonically associated with a lower odds of MetS [OR 0.75 comparing extreme quintiles, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66–0.86, P<0.001]. Compared with non-exercisers in a specific exercise type, jogging (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.68–1.00, P = 0.046), tai chi (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.60–0.88, P<0.001), and dancing (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.47–0.67, P<0.001) were associated with significantly lower odds of MetS. Furthermore, each 1–h/week increment in tai chi and dancing was associated with a 5% (95% CI 2%–9%) and a 9% (95% CI 6%, 12%) lower risk of MetS. Conclusions/Significance: Jogging, tai chi and dancing are associated with a significantly lower risk of having MetS in middle-aged and older Chinese. Future intervention studies should consider the role of jogging, tai chi and dancing in preventing MetS.en-USMedicineClinical Research DesignCohort StudiesSurvey ResearchEpidemiologyCardiovascular Disease EpidemiologyMetabolic DisordersNon-Clinical MedicineHealth Care PolicyHealth Risk AnalysisPublic HealthBehavioral and Social Aspects of HealthPreventive MedicineSports and Exercise MedicineJournal Article2013-08-0110.1371/journal.pone.0053258