Metabolic Syndrome
Medical Author: Ruchi Mathur, M.D.
Medical Editor:
William C. Shiel Jr, MD, FACP, FACR
Weight Management and Control
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
 A lifestyle that combines sensible eating with regular physical activity is the key to good health.
To be at their best, adults need to avoid gaining
weight, many need to lose weight and some are underweight. Being overweight or obese increases your risk for
high blood pressure,
heart disease,
stroke,
diabetes, certain types of
cancer,
arthritis, and breathing problems. A healthy weight is key to a long, healthy life.
Evaluate Your Body
Weight for adults and children, different methods are used to find out if weight is about right for height. If you are an adult, find out your
BMI (click here for calculations).
Not all adults who have a BMI in the range labeled "healthy" are at their most
healthy weight. For example:
- Some may have lots of fat and little muscle.
- A BMI above the healthy range is less healthy for most people; but it may be fine if you have lots of muscle, a large body frame, and little fat.
- The further your BMI is above the healthy range, the higher your weight-related risk. If your BMI is above the healthy range, you may benefit from weight loss, especially if you have other health risk factors.
- BMIs slightly below the healthy range may still be healthy unless they result from illness.
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What is metabolic syndrome?
An association between certain metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease has been
known since the 1940s. In the 1980s this association became more clearly defined
and the term metabolic syndrome (also known as syndrome X or the dysmetabolic
syndrome) was coined to designate a cluster of metabolic risk
factors that come together in a single individual. In more current times, the
term metabolic syndrome is found throughout medical literature and in the lay
press as well. There are slight differences in the criteria of diagnosis -
depending on which authority is quoted. Regardless, the concept of a clustering
of risks factors leading to cardiovascular disease is well accepted.
The main features of metabolic syndrome include
insulin
resistance, hypertension (high blood pressure), cholesterol abnormalities, and
an increased risk for clotting. Patients are most often overweight or obese.
Insulin resistance refers to the diminished ability of cells to respond to
the action of insulin in promoting the transport of the sugar glucose, from blood into muscles
and other tissues. Because of the central role that insulin resistance plays in
the metabolic syndrome, a separate article is devoted to insulin resistance.
How is metabolic syndrome defined?
The definition of metabolic syndrome depends on which
group of experts is doing the defining. Based on the guidelines from the 2001
National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel (ATP III), any three of the following
traits in the same individual meet the criteria for the metabolic syndrome:
- Abdominal obesity: a
waist circumference over 102 cm (40 in) in men and over 88 cm (35 inches) in
women.
- Serum triglycerides 150 mg/dl or
above.
- HDL cholesterol 40mg/dl or
lower in men and 50mg/dl or lower in women.
- Blood pressure of 130/85
or more.
- Fasting blood glucose of 110 mg/dl or above. (Some groups say
100mg/dl)
The World Health Organization (WHO) has slightly different criteria for the
metabolic syndrome:
- High insulin levels, an elevated fasting blood glucose or an elevated post
meal glucose alone with at least 2 of the following criteria:
- Abdominal obesity as defined by a waist to hip ratio of greater than
0.9, a body mass index of at least 30 kg/m2 or a waist measurement over
37 inches.
- Cholesterol panel showing
a triglyceride level of at least 150 mg/dl or an HDL cholesterol lower than 35
mg/dl.
- Blood pressure of 140/90 or above (or on treatment for high blood
pressure).
Next: How common is metabolic syndrome? »
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