Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical disorders. Metabolic syndrome and obesity increase the risks of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Obesity and metabolic syndrome affects one in five people, and some studies estimate the prevalence in the United States to be up to 25% of the population. Studies have shown that in obesity, metabolic syndrome is due to the body’s attempt to protect organs from excess fat (Mediligence.com, 2012).
Some of the risk factors of metabolic syndrome include:
Stress – research indicates that prolonged stress may be an underlying cause of metabolic syndrome obesity. This occurs because stress upsets the body’s hormonal imbalance.
Overweight and obesity – in metabolic syndrome, obesity is a key feature of the syndrome. There seems to be a strong relationship between waist circumference and metabolic syndrome, but some patients of normal weight also become insulin-resistant and have the syndrome.
Sedentary lifestyle – many of the components of metabolic syndrome are related to those of a sedentary lifestyle, such as reduced HDL cholesterol and increase triglycerides, blood pressure, and glucose.
Aging – 44% of the U.S. population that is over the age of 50 are affected by metabolic syndrome. It is more predominant in women than in men (Wikipedia.org, 2011).
Abdominal Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome
Many believe that abdominal obesity is the underlying cause of metabolic syndrome. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) have made guidelines using a waste-to-hip ratio in the use of diagnosing metabolic syndrome and obesity, though most organizations use a waist circumference measurement to define obesity. In women, fat is likely to be stored in buttocks, thighs, and hips; this may throw off calculations of fat by circumference measurement alone. After menopause, women begin to store fat in the belly area, however.
According to recent studies daily exercise is an important factor in the reduction of abdominal obesity. The reduction of caloric intake also has a great effect in decreasing body weight.Metabolic syndrome and obesity are associated with a higher risk of heart disease, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. However, metabolic syndrome and obesity can be reverse, type 2 diabetes cannot. Therefore, a permanent exercise routine and a diet in which the patient consumes fewer calories should be put in place in order to lessen further complication and possible prevent the onset of these dangerous conditions.
