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 suffer 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.
More Information
H.E.A.R.T. - The Cholesterol Charity
HEART UK supports all those at risk of inherited high
cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.
www.heartuk.org.uk
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