Metabolic syndrome, brought on largely by too much food and too little physical activity, is prevalent in cultures with an improving standard of living. The results are abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, poor cholesterol, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and an elevated risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Although a defect in certain genes may make some individuals vulnerable to insulin resistance, the condition is made worse by overeating and lack of exercise. To counter insulin resistance, doctors recommend regular exercise, weight loss and a diet low in saturated fats, moderate in total fats and high in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and fiber.
[SOURCE: G.M. Reaven, Terry Kristen Strom and Barry Fox, Syndrome X: Overcoming the Silent Killer That Can Give You a Heart Attack, Simon Schuster, 2000; Reaven, “Syndrome X: 6 Years Later,” Journal of Internal Medicine, 1994; “Insulin Resistance,” stanford.edu.]


Metabolic Syndrome–Who’s at Risk?                                                                        


Experts estimate that 25 percent of Americans have metabolic syndrome–a cluster of symptoms including excess abdominal fat, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol. 

Among some groups, the risk is particularly high: 40 percent of persons in their 60s and 70s have metabolic syndrome compared to only 7 percent of those in their 20s. Among African Americans and Mexican Americans, metabolic syndrome is more prevalent among women than men.
[SOURCE: Michael Smith, M.D., “Do You Have Metabolic Syndrome?” WebMD feature, January 15, 2002; JAMA, January 16, 2002]