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Physical activity is inversely related to hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia, with men benefiting from moderate or shorter activity and women from higher-intensity or higher-volume exercise.
Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia remain key risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD)—the second predominant cause of death in Taiwan. While regular physical activity (PA) is widely recognized as a protective factor against these metabolic conditions, few large-scale studies have examined how these benefits differ between men and women. Hence, a novel study using data from the Taiwan Biobank yields critical insights into the gender-specific connection between PA levels and metabolic health outcomes.
Rong Xian Chen and other researchers analyzed data from 193,995 adults (67,629 men and 116,326 women) enrolled in the Taiwan Biobank. Information on demographics, lifestyle behaviors, and medical history was collected via structured questionnaires. Lipid profiles, blood pressure, and levels of fasting glucose were procured from baseline health screenings. PA levels were assessed using metabolic equivalents, accounting for intensity, frequency, and duration.
The volume of PA was determined by multiplying intensity, frequency, and duration, and participants were categorized into 3 groups (low, moderate, high) for each PA-related indicator. Researchers then executed multivariate logistic regression analyses to explore links between PA indicators and the presence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia, comparing results across genders using adjusted odds ratio (aOR).
Key findings
The analysis revealed notable gender differences in how various dimensions of PA influenced metabolic conditions.
(a) Among men
(b) Among women
Interestingly, hyperlipidemia illustrated a significant association with PA measures only in men, suggesting possible biological or behavioral differences influencing lipid metabolism between genders. This large-scale study highlights that the protective effects of PA on hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia vary by gender.
Men benefited more from moderate-intensity or shorter-duration activities, while women showed stronger protective links with higher PA volumes and intensities. These findings underscore the importance of gender-tailored PA recommendations for cardiovascular and metabolic health promotion in Asian populations.
Atherosclerosis
Exploring gender differences in the association of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia with physical activity in Taiwan: A population-based cross-sectional study
Rong Xian Chen et al.
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