Table 2 Rate of metabolic syndrome at baseline (2009–2010) and after an average of 3.9 years. Study undertaken in Okayama

Number of participants (N)

8153

8153

–

4875

4875

–

3278

3278

–

Age (years)

46.8 (4.6)

50.6 (4.9)

< 0.0001

46.9 (4.8)

50.7 (4.9)

< 0.0001

46.7 (4.7)

50.5 (4.8)

< 0.0001

BMI (kg/m²)

22.9 (3.4)

23.1 (3.5)

< 0.0001

23.7 (3.3)

23.8 (3.3)

< 0.0001

21.7 (3.3)

22.0 (3.5)

< 0.0001

Waist circumference (cm)

81.7 (9.6)

82.3 (9.6)

< 0.0001

84.5 (8.9)

84.9 (9.0)

< 0.0001

77.4 (9.0)

78.5 (9.3)

< 0.0001

Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)

117.6 (15.4)

118.8 (16.6)

< 0.0001

120.5 (15.0)

121.8 (15.7)

< 0.0001

113.1 (15.0)

114.2 (16.7)

< 0.0001

Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)

75.3 (11.4)

75.9 (11.1)

< 0.0001

77.2 (11.3)

78.1 (10.7)

< 0.0001

72.5 (10.9)

72.8 (11.1)

0.044

Triglycerides (mg/dl)

111.6 (84.2)

109.8 (84.6)

0.004

133.0 (97.6)

127.5 (98.6)

< 0.0001

79.7 (42.0)

83.4 (46.8)

< 0.0001

HDL cholesterol (mg/dl)

64.8 (16.3)

65.0 (17.4)

0.356

59.4 (14.5)

59.4 (15.5)

0.145

72.8 (15.6)

73.5 (16.6)

0.002

LDL cholesterol (mg/dl)

128.1 (31.9)

127.7 (31.3)

< 0.0001

131.6 (32.0)

128.5 (31.1)

< 0.0001

122.8 (30.9)

126.6 (31.6)

< 0.0001

HbA1c (NGSP values) n (%)

5.54 (0.6)

5.59 (0.6)

< 0.0001

5.58 (0.7)

5.63 (0.6)

< 0.0001

5.48 (0.4)

5.53 (0.5)

< 0.0001

Metabolic syndrome n (%)

866 (10.6%)

1066 (13.1)

< 0.0001

613 (12.6)

702 (14.4)

< 0.0001

253 (7.7)

364 (11.1)

< 0.0001

Current smokers n (%)^a

2134 (28.1)

1760 (23.2)

< 0.0001

1869 (41.2)

1539 (33.9)

< 0.0001

265 (8.7)

221 (7.3)

< 0.0001

“I have been engaged in light ≥30-min exercise more than twice a week for > 1 year” n (%)^a

1603 (21.1)

1847 (24.4)

< 0.0001

1097 (24.2)

1249 (27.5)

< 0.0001

506 (16.6)

598 (19.6)

< 0.0001

“Physical activity for > 1 h/day” n (%)^a

1258 (16.6)

1409 (18.6)

< 0.0001

820 (18.1)

920 (20.3)

0.0007

438 (14.4)

489 (16.1)

0.020

Those with a single habit of “dinner within 2 h of bedtime” (≥3 times per week) n (%)

2006 (24.6)

1952 (23.9)

0.203

1619 (33.2)

1543 (31.7)

0.036

387 (11.8)

409 (12.5)

0.320

Those with a single habit of “snacks after dinner” (≥3 times per week) n (%)

972 (11.9)

962 (11.8)

0.559

403 (8.3)

401 (8.2)

0.488

569 (17.4)

561 (17.1)

0.888

Those with both habits of “dinner within 2 h of bedtime” and “snacks after dinner” (≥3 times per week) n (%)

713 (8.8)

694 (8.5)

0.168

496 (10.2)

489 (10.0)

0.468

217 (6.6)

205 (6.3)

0.213

“I skip breakfast > 3 times a week.” n (%)^a

1219 (16.1)

1134 (15.0)

0.002

920 (20.3)

836 (18.4)

0.0001

299 (9.8)

298 (9.8)

1.000

Current drinkers n (%)

4582 (56.2)

4683 (57.4)

0.002

3368 (69.1)

3475 (71.3)

< 0.0001

1214(37.0)

1208 (36.9)

0.817

excessive drinkers n (%)

968 (11.9)

1238 (15.2)

< 0.0001

878 (18.0)

1109 (22.8)

< 0.0001

90 (2.8)

129 (3.9)

0.0006