This study was aimed at the evaluation of relationship between visceral fat area (VFA) and physical activity (PA) with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk in the physically active postmenopausal women. A total of 85 attendants of the University of the Third Age (U3A) aged 62.8 ± 5.9 years (median time since menopause 11.8 y), participated in this study. VFA was assessed by bioimpedance method using InBody 720 analyzer. PA was assessed using the ActiGraph GT1 M accelerometer. Fasting levels of serum lipids (TG, HDL), serum glucose, waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure were measured to diagnose MetS according to NCEP-ATP III criteria. In 73 out of 85 participants the VFA exceeded the upper normal level of 100 cm2, however, in almost a half of this group (n = 36) with elevated VFA (139.5 ± 26.1 cm2 on average), only 2 out of 5 criteria for MetS diagnosis were met. Participants were physically active, making on average 10,919 ± 3435 steps/day. The risk of MetS occurrence in women with VFA > 100 cm2 was twelve times higher (OR 12.33; CI 95% [1.5; 99.8]) than in the group with VFA < 100 cm2. The participants from the group with the highest PA level (≥12,500 steps/day) were at almost 4 times lower risk for MetS, than their less active counterparts (OR 3.84; CI 95% [1.27;11.64]). Increased level of VFA is a strong risk factor for the MetS in postmenopausal women, however high level of regular PA above the threshold of 12,500 steps/day may substantially reduce it.

Center for Kinanthropology Research Faculty of Physical Culture Palacký University Olomouc Tř Míru 115 771 11 Olomouc Czech Republic

Department of Natural Sciences in Kinanthropology Faculty of Physical Culture Palacký University Olomouc Tř Míru 115 771 11 Olomouc Czech Republic

Department of Psychology SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities Chodakowska 19 31 03 815 Warsaw Poland

The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education Mikołowska 72a 40 065 Katowice Poland

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