Counting Footsteps with a Pedometer to Improve HMW Adiponectin and Metabolic Syndrome among Young Female Adults in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract EN

Introduction.

Physical activity (PA) may improve cardiometabolic fitness and increase high-molecular-weight adiponectin (HMW-Adip).

The pedometer is an effective, user-friendly device to monitor PA with the aim of improving health.

This study examined how counting footsteps, using a pedometer, might affect HMW-Adip and MetS components among young females.

Methods.

Fifty-two females (21.43 ± 4.8 years) were divided into “normal” (BMI = 18–24.9 kg/m2) and “high” (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) BMI groups.

Participants wore pedometers throughout the day for nine weeks.

Pre-post intervention tests performed on anthropometric, biochemical, and nutrient intake variables were tested at p≤0.05.

Results.

Participants walked 7056 ± 1570 footsteps/day without a significant difference between normal (7488.49 ± 1098) and high (6739.18 ± 1793) BMI groups.

After week 9, the normal BMI group improved significantly in BMI, body fat mass (BFM), and waist-hip ratio (WHR).

Additionally, percent body fat, waist circumference (WC), and visceral fat area also reduced significantly in the high BMI group.

A significant decrease in triglycerides (TG) (71.62 ± 29.22 vs.

62.50 ± 29.16 mg/dl, p=0.003) and insulin (21.7 ± 8.33 µU/l vs.

18.64 ± 8.25 µU/l, p=0.046) and increase in HMW-Adip (3.77 ± 0.46 vs.

3.80 ± 0.44 μg/ml, p=0.034) were recorded in the high BMI group.

All participants exhibited significant inverse correlations between daily footsteps and BMI (r=−0.33, p=0.017), BFM (r=−0.29, p=0.037), WHR (r=−0.401, p=0.003), and MetS score (r=−0.49, p<0.001) and positive correlation with HMW-Adip (r=0.331, p=0.017).

A positive correlation with systolic (r=0.46, p=0.011) and diastolic (r=0.39, p=0.031) blood pressures and inverse correlation with the MetS score (r=−0.5, p=0.005) were evident in the high BMI group.

Conclusion.

Counting footsteps using a pedometer is effective in improving MetS components (obesity, TG) and increasing HMW-Adip levels.