ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence, risk factors of metabolic syndrome, and lifestyle in religious women by age and metabolic syndrome status between the metabolic syndrome group and the normal group. METHODS: As the subjects for this study, 125 religious women in the city of D, H, S, Y, participated in this study. The diagnostic criterion of metabolic syndrome used was the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher as the religious women got older. The metabolic syndrome group in their forties showed higher waist circumference, triglycerides, and lower HDL- cholesterol than the normal group. Among those in their fifties, the metabolic syndrome group had higher waist circumference, fasting glucose, triglyceride and lower HDL-cholesterol than the normal group. In their sixties, the metabolic syndrome group had higher fasting glucose, triglyceride and systolic blood pressure than the normal group. CONCLUSION: The metabolic syndrome group in their forties showed that their practice rate of 'trying to avoid stresses at work', 'taking prescription medicines' was low. For those in their fifties, the practice rate of 'reducing overeating' and 'choice of low fat meats' was low. Finally, in the group of those in their sixties, 'reducing fried foods' was low.