Abstract
This study aims to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS), overweight and obesity, uric acid (UA), and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) among former athletes and non-athletes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Moreover, to determine the effects of previous high intensity training on MS risk factors, overweight and obesity, and UA. Seventy-five (75) former athletes and twenty-six (26) non-athletes, aged between 26 and 60 years old, participated in this study. Height, weight, waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), and blood samples were collected by the researcher. LTPA was reported by participants. The study results showed that 38.61% of former athletes have MS and 17.82% of non-athletes have MS. The study also showed that 31.68% of former athletes were overweight and 26.73% were obese. However, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among non-athletes was 9.90%. 23.76% of former athletes had high level of UA, whereas 14.85% of non-athletes had high level of UA. According to the study findings 28% former athletes participated in high physical activity (PA), 38.67% in moderate PA, and 33.33% in low PA,while 19.23% of non-athletes participated in high PA, 38.46% in moderate PA, and 42.31% in low PA. Former athletes had lower mean of body mass index, WC, fasting blood glucose (FBG), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and UA than non-athletes. In addition, higher mean of low highdensity lipoprotein (HDL). However, former athletes had higher mean of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and triglycerides (TG) than non-athletes.