The Metabolic Syndrome is a common metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance with excessive flux of fatty acids, explained by a combination of unbalanced dietary, sedentary lifestyle and genetic predisposition. This syndrome is a major risk factor for several chronic diseases, mainly type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVD); in fact, the estimated contribution of MS for all-cause mortality range is ≈7%, for CVD from 12-17%, for type 2 diabetes from 30-52%, and for CHD from 8-29%.

Mexican population has some features related to MS which have been documented as the high rates of prevalence from overweight or central obesity which is associated with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, low-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), hypertriglyceridemia, hypoalphalipoproteinemia and type 2 diabetes, besides CVD and, type 2 diabetes are the first and third leading causes of death in this country.

Regarding the principal lifestyle factors related to chronic diseases, a reduced PA is a greater risk factor for CVD, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and other chronic disorders, and that modifying these preventable causes is possible to decreases their incidence and premature death. It is also well documented that habitual PA prevents elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, elevated triglycerides, increases HDL and decreases body weight, preventing development of CHD, type 2 diabetes and MS.


In order to develop successful public health strategies, it is necessary to investigate the reasons driving people to a certain physical behavior for recognize the attitudes of individuals towards the recommendations of health promotion programs and to determine the networks between benefits and barriers motivating or demotivating people to participate in such programs. For this reason the aim of this study is to evaluate the physical activity preferences in workplace, outside workplace and over transportation for Metabolic Syndrome prevention in three Mexican urban populations.