This study determined the effects of 24 weeks of walking on risk factors and insulin sensitivity associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in men. Forty-eight (28.4 +/- 3.2 BMI) sedentary/low-active men were randomly selected into controls (n = 19, 52.4 +/- 8.0) or walkers (n = 29, 54.9 +/- 8.0 yrs). Over a 24-week period, 156.4 +/- 26.5 min-walking/wk was performed in 7.2 +/- 2.9 sessions/wk for a mean of 25.1 +/- 10.3 min/session at an estimated relative VO2max of 50.6 +/- 9.1%. GLM statistical analysis using the baseline values as a covariate was employed. Bonferroni correction set significance at p < 0.006. Significant post-intervention changes were observed in waist circumference (WC) (walkers -2.0 +/- 2.7 versus controls +1.3 +/- 3.1 cm, p < 0.0001); waist/hip (W/H) ratio (-0.02 +/- 0.03 versus +0.01 +/- 0.03, p < 0.0001), serum insulin (-1.7 +/- 1.5 versus +2.0 +/- 6.0, p < 0.006 Î?U/ml), and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) (+2.0 +/- 6.0 versus -0.4 +/- 0.7, p < 0.002 M/mU/L, respectively). The post-intervention changes: insulin correlated with WC (R = 0.441; p < 0.002); ISI negatively with WC (R = -0.433; p < 0.003), indicating the changes in body composition to have affected insulin metabolism and insulin sensitivity. The men who walked at an easily attainable intensity for most mobile adults of about 51% of relative VO2max showed reduced WC and enhanced insulin sensitivity, thus reducing their risk of MetS and type II diabetes.

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