In order to investigate whether changes in fitness levels were associated with metabolic syndrome incidence, investigators of this study followed 212 men and women who were separated into 3 groups for a 3 year period. Group 1 (n=103) included individuals with the metabolic syndrome at baseline who no longer had the metabolic syndrome at the end of the follow-up. The 75 individuals in group 2 had the metabolic syndrome at baseline and still had this condition at follow-up. Group 3 (n=34) participants did not have the metabolic syndrome at baseline but eventually developed the syndrome. VO2 max was estimated with a graded exercise test (GXT). In groups 1 and 2, GXT duration increased over the follow-up whereas estimated VO2 max only increased in group 1. Although GXT duration did not change significantly in group 3, estimated VO2 max declined significantly over the follow-up. Based on these results, the authors suggested that improving cardiorespiratory fitness via behaviour changes, such as increasing physical activity and exercise training, should be recommended as an early intervention for patients with the metabolic syndrome.
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