The Metabolic Syndrome

An excess of body fat, especially abdominal fat, leads to impaired glucose and lipid metabolism, which leads to hyperinsulinaemia (a high blood insulin level, also known as insulin resistance). At its most severe this leads to diabetes; less severe degrees of insulin resistance lead to what is a multi-component disease known as the metabolic syndrome.

The metabolic syndrome describes a clustering of several risk factors for heart disease and stroke, namely abdominal obesity, abnormal blood lipids (e.g. high LDL cholesterol [especially small dense LDL], reduced HDL cholesterol & raised triglyceride concentrations), insulin resistance and high blood pressure (hypertension). Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke); those with the metabolic syndrome are three times more likely to s uffer heart disease or stoke than someone with normal blood insulin concentrations.

Metabolic syndrome has been suggested to affect 25% of the population in countries such as the UK, and has severe consequences for both public health and the economy.

According to the British Nutrition Foundation the metabolic syndrome is a public health time bomb. It may affect as many as 1 in 5 adults in some parts of Europe, greatly increasing the risk of developing heart disease and stroke. The metabolic syndrome is a ticking time bomb, and unless something is done about it, it will cost the European economy billions, and millions of people across Europe could die prematurely. Body weight plays an important role in the development of the metabolic syndrome and with obesity spiralling out of control (20% of men and 25% of women in some parts of Europe are obese) the problem is only set to get worse. Following hot on the heels of obesity, related disorders are increasing too. By 2010, it is suggested that 30 million people in Europe (equivalent to the total population of Belgium, Hungary and Portugal put together) will suffer from diabetes, creating a huge burden on the health service and the economy not to forget the individuals themselves.