In this Article

• What is metabolic syndrome?
• How is metabolic syndrome defined?
• How common is metabolic syndrome?
• What causes metabolic syndrome?
• Why should I know about metabolic syndrome?
• How is metabolic syndrome treated?
• Summary
• Patient Discussions: Metabolic Syndrome - Effective Treatments
• Metabolic Syndrome Glossary
• Metabolic Syndrome Index

How common is metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is quite common. Approximately 20%-30% of the population in industrialized countries have metabolic syndrome. By the year 2010, the metabolic syndrome is expected to affect 50-75 million people in the US alone.

What causes metabolic syndrome?

As is true with many medical conditions, genetics and the environment both play important roles in the development of the metabolic syndrome.

Genetic factors influence each individual component of the syndrome, and the syndrome itself. A family history that includes type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and early heart disease greatly increases the chance that an individual will develop the metabolic syndrome.

Environmental issues such as low activity level, sedentary lifestyle, and progressive weight gain also contribute significantly to the risk of developing the metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is present in about 5% of people with normal body weight, 22% of those who are overweight and 60% of those considered obese. Adults who continue to gain five or more pounds per year raise their risk of developing metabolic syndrome by up to 45%.

While obesity itself is likely the greatest risk factor, others factors of concern include:

• women who are post-menopausal,
  
  
• smoking,
  
  
• eating an excessively high carbohydrate diet,
  
  
• lack of activity (even without weight change), and
  
  
• consuming an alcohol-free diet.

Metabolic Syndrome - Effective Treatments

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