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Abstract Purpose Physical activity (PA) is a modifiable factor in preventing/treating cardiometabolic disease. However, no studies have yet compared specific moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) domains with the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in detail. Here, the present study was conducted to examine the impact of different MVPA domains (leisure-time PA (LTPA) vs. occupational PA (OPA) vs. total MVPA) on the risk of MetS in Korean adults. Materials and methods: Data from the 2014 to 2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed (N = 31,558). MetS was defined according to the criteria by revised NCEP/ATP-III. The domain-specific MVPA was assessed using the K-GPAQ. The LTPA and OPA status were classified into four categories: (1) 0 min/week, (2) 1 to 149 min/week, (3) 150 to 299 min/week, and 4) ≥ 300 min/week. In addition, the present study calculated total MVPA as a sum of OPA and LTPA and further classified it into six groups; (1) 0 min/week, (2) 1 to 149 min/week, (3) 150 to 299 min/week, (4) 300 to 449 min/week, (5) 450 to 599 min/week, 6) ≥ 600 min/week. Results: The ≥ 300 min/week and the 150 to 299 min/week of LTPA showed better outcomes in cardiometabolic disease risk factors and surrogate markers of insulin resistance compared with the 0 min/week of LTPA regardless of adiposity status. Risk of MetS in ≥ 300 min/week of LTPA was lower than in 0 min/week, 1 to 149 min/week, and 150 to 299. In addition, LTPA was significantly associated with a risk of the MetS in a curvilinear dose-response curve, however, no significant effects of a non-linear relationship between OPA and risk of the MetS. Conclusions: Our findings showed that LTPA was associated with a risk of MetS with a dose-response curve, whereas no significant non-linear effects were found between OPA and the risk of MetS. Therefore, the MVPA domain is an independent factor of the risk of MetS.

Background: Estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) is mathematically calculated from age and mean arterial pressure (MAP). We examined the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) vs. moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on ePWV and MAP in insufficiently active overweight adults. Methods: Using the randomized controlled trial design, thirteen males (27.46 ± 3.80 years old; body mass index (BMI) = 29.61 ± 5.52) randomly completed either two-week HIIT (n = 7) or MICT (n = 6). HIIT consisted of 8 sessions of cycling, 20 min/session with an exercise-to-rest ratio of 10/50 s at ≥90% peak heart rate (HRpeak). MICT consisted of 8 cycling sessions, 40 min/session at 60–75% HRpeak. Oscillometric brachial MAP was measured pre- and post-intervention, and ePWV was calculated. Two-way repeated measure analysis of variance examined the effects of time, intervention, and their interactions on ePWV and MAP. Results: Significant time effects were observed for ePWV and MAP, where both measures comparably decreased over time in HIIT and MICT groups (p < 0.05 for all). However, no significant intervention or interaction effects were detected, indicating no superiority of either exercise modality for ePWV or MAP improvements. Conclusions: This study uniquely revealed that two weeks of HIIT or MICT resulted in significant, comparable, and clinically meaningful decreases in ePWV and MAP among insufficiently active overweight adults. As such, overweight adults who have time as a constraint to engage in traditional exercise (i.e., MICT) can accomplish comparable vascular benefits by performing HIIT.