Association between community environment and metabolic sydrome among Chinese middle-aged and older adults — Evidence from the national longitudinal surveys from 2011 to 2015

Background: community environments that encourage active and socially engaged lifestyles may help reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aims to examine the relationship between community cultural and recreational environments and the incidence of MetS among middle-aged and older Chinese individuals. Methods: we used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from 2011 to 2015, we included participants aged 45 years and older with complete relevant data. Community environments were classified into three categories using hierarchical clustering analysis. Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to examine associations between community environments and MetS. Findings: among 6,321 participants, 1,403 developed MetS during the follow-up period. Those who developed MetS were older, less educated, currently drinking, engaged in agricultural work, and lived in northern or rural areas, primarily in Category 1 communities. Participants in Category 2 (OR: 0.69, 95 % CI: 0.55-0.87) and Category 3 (OR: 0.57, 95 % CI: 0.33-0.93) communities had a lower risk of MetS compared to those in Category 1. Significant associations were found among middle-aged individuals and males in Category 2, and among females in both Category 2 and Category 3 communities. Conclusion: our findings suggest that community environments with robust cultural, sports, and recreational support are associated with a lower risk of MetS among middle-aged and older adults in China. These findings emphasize the importance of well-rounded community environments in promoting metabolic health.