Sex and Age Differences in Metabolic Risk

Among adults younger than 50, short-term improvement in physical activity was inversely associated with metabolic syndrome (OR 0.54). Among men, improving physical activity from insufficient to sufficient was associated with a 53% lower odds of metabolic syndrome (OR 0.47). Among adults aged 50 or older, sleep quality showed stronger and more consistent associations with metabolic syndrome than physical activity did. The study's age-stratified findings suggest that physical activity is more relevant to metabolic syndrome in younger middle-aged adults, while sleep quality is more important among older adults.