Many people have never even heard of the metabolic syndrome, also known as Syndrome X. Until recently, most physicians had never heard of the metabolic syndrome either.Yet this condition—a combination of blood lipid abnormalities, high blood pressure, and elevated blood sugar—affects almost one-quarter of the adult population in the United States. The major underlying cause of the metabolic syndrome is obesity, in particular, increased abdominal fat.
Five different conditions make up the metabolic syndrome:
1. High blood triglycerides
2. Low HDL cholesterol
3. High blood pressure
4. Elevated blood sugar
5. Increased waist circumference (greater than 40 inches in men and greater than 35 inches in women)
The metabolic syndrome is rapidly becoming a significant medical problem because it increases so many risk factors for heart disease and diabetes.Weight loss is the only effective treatment for this condition.
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