When a person is obese, he or she can develop a condition which makes them more prone to developing type II diabetes, strokes and coronary artery disease. This condition is called metabolic syndrome. It is more common in people who have an ” “apple shaped” physique, with more body fat around their middle and upper body.
What Is Metabolic Syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is becoming more and more common in obese people these days. Metabolic syndrome is referred to a group of risk factors which occur together, causing an increased risk for a person developing strokes, coronary artery disease and type II diabetes. No single cause has yet been isolated, but all the risks that cause the syndrome are related to a person being obese.
What Are The Risk Factors Of Metabolic Syndrome?
The most important risk factors of metabolic syndrome are:
- Having an apple shaped physique, with more upper body fat and fat around the middle, also called central obesity.
- Resistance to insulin, in which insulin cannot be used by the body effectively. In such a situation blood sugar and fat levels increase drastically as insulin is very important in controlling blood sugar levels.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Advancing age
- Sedentary lifestyle with little or no exercise
- Hormonal disturbances
- Excessive clotting of blood
- Low levels of inflammation
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Metabolic Syndrome?
If three or more than three of the following signs and symptoms are present in a person, that person is considered to be at risk for developing metabolic syndrome:
- Extra fat around the waist (central obesity), for men more that 40 inches, for women more than 35 inches
- Blood pressure equal or more than 130/85 mmHg
- Fasting blood glucose more than or equal to 100 mg/dl
- Low levels of LDL (Low Density Lipids)
- Triglycerides higher or equal to 150 mg/dL
Treatment Of Metabolic Syndrome:
Major lifestyle changes will have to done in order to treat metabolic syndrome and to lower the risks of developing strokes, type II diabetes and heart disease. Medication will have to be prescribed in order to lower the blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels and a healthy and balanced diet and exercise will have to be added to a person”s life.
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