The Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a group of conditions that include high blood pressure, obesity, high blood sugar, and low HDL and high triglycerides.  The combination of the separate components of MetS has been associated with strokes, heart attacks, gout, fatty liver, and Type 2 Diabetes.

Having One Component of Metabolic Syndrome Makes it Likely That You Will Develop the Rest of the Criteria

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is quite common. The prevalence is 25% in all adults. Just one component of metabolic syndrome increases the risk of developing the other parts of metabolic syndrome later in life. It likely represents a high lifetime burden of cardiovascular disease risk. 

For example, if you are obese, then most likely, you also have hyperglycemia and hypertension. If you have high blood sugar,  then most likely, you also have hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL. All of them put you at a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Obesity6 (1)

How Will You Know If You Have Metabolic Syndrome?

If you answer yes to more than two of the following, you have MetS.  These questions are based on the NCEP ATP III (National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Protocol).

1. Is your waist circumference over 101 cm, 40 inches (Western men) or 90 cm /35 inches (Asian men), 89 cm, 35 inches (Western women), 80 cm/ 31 inches (Asian)

2. Is your blood pressure over 130/85, or are you undergoing treatment for hypertension

3. Do you have a fasting triglyceride over 150 mg/dl, or are you getting treatment for a high triglyceride?

4. Do you have a fasting high-density lipoprotein (HDL) of less than 40 mg/dl in men or less than 50mg/dl in women, or are you getting treatment?

5. Is your fasting blood sugar over 100 mg/dl or getting treatment for Type 2 diabetes?

Metabolic syndrome can lead to other diseases.  The good news is that it can be reversed with intermittent fasting and the right exercise.

Related Readings:

Metabolic Syndrome

Intermittent Fasting

  1. How to Do Intermittent Fasting
  2. The Kaizen Way of Fasting
  3. The Science of Fasting
  4. 10 Unbelievably Easy Ways to Screw Up Intermittent Fasting!
  5. Will Fasting Make My Muscles Shrink?
  6. Are You Skipping Breakfast?
  7. The 20/80 Rule for Health
  8. Autophagy – How to Recycle Yourself
  9. A Case Report of 3 Diabetic Patients that are Weaned Off Insulin

Exercise

References:

  1. Patel H, Patel V. H. Inflammation and Metabolic Syndrome- An Overview. Curr Res Nutr Food Sci 2015;3(3). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CRNFSJ.3.3.10
  2. Huang, P., A comprehensive definition for metabolic syndromeDis Model Mech. 2009 May-Jun; 2(5-6): 231–237. doi: 10.1242/dmm.001180
  3. Waist Circumference and Waist-Hip Ratio: Report of a WHO Expert Consultation
    Geneva, 8–11 December 2008

Image Credit:

Obese Man FatM1ke

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