Reprinted from the Health District's quarterly publication mailed to district residents (Fall 2007)
TOPIC: Metabolic Syndrome
 Excess belly fat + other risk factors = more serious health problems
 
by kelly serrano

Obesity alone can lead to a variety of health issues.

But combine obesity – particularly abdominal obesity – with a couple of other risk factors and the chances of developing more serious health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer, are significantly multiplied.

In fact, researchers at the Mayo Clinic released in January an analysis of 40 published studies that shows that obesity paired with high blood pressure, hyperglycemia, elevated triglycerides (a type of fat in the bloodstream) or low levels of good cholesterol, nearly doubles the chance of cardiovascular disease and multiplies by five the risk of developing diabetes, says Dr. Bruce Cooper, medical director of the Health District of Northern Larimer County. The combination of three or more of these risk factors in the same person appears to increase the risk of heart attacks more than one would predict from simply adding up each of the risks individually, and this clustering of risks may pose more of a risk for women than men.

That is why some health authorities have labeled the presence of three or more of the five symptoms identified above as metabolic syndrome or syndrome X – a condition that nearly one in four Americans may have.

Some experts call the condition “insulin resistance syndrome,” because the overproduction of insulin in people with abdominal obesity may be the underlying cause of the other risks. Others say none of these labels are needed, as patients with these health issues are treated the same without labels.
What is metabolic syndrome?

The presence of three or more of these risk factors*:
  • Obesity resulting in an “apple-shaped” waist (greater than 40 inches for men or 35 inches for women)
  • High blood pressure
  • Hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar)
  • Elevated triglycerides (a type of fat in the bloodstream)
  • Low levels of high-density lipoprotein, also known as HDL or “good cholesterol”
Source: Journal of the American Medical Association
*Some health organizations require
obesity as one symptom for a metabolic syndrome diagnosis
Prevention and treatment
  • Maintain a diet low in saturated fats, high in nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, with unrefined carbohydrates, healthy fats and lean protein
  • Exercise 30 minutes most days
  • Lose excess body weight
  • Don’t smoke
  • Sometimes medications are needed to treat the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome
But experts agree on what patients with symptoms of metabolic syndrome need to do.

“Two big contributors to metabolic syndrome are poor diet and lack of exercise,” says Dianne Moeller, a Health District registered dietitian. “We can’t fool our bodies or our biology. Our bodies were created to move and eat real food.”

Chris Melby, head of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Colorado State University, says dietitians will approach each person with the syndrome on an individual basis, because the specific features can differ from one person to the next; dietary treatment is based on individual symptoms. But they instruct all metabolic syndrome patients on the importance of exercising 30 minutes most days.

“Lifestyle is such a critical part of it,” Melby says, noting patients can take small steps to make the transition to health easier.

Cooper notes some patients may need to take medication to decrease blood pressure, lower triglycerides or increase their good cholesterol levels, but they still need to exercise and maintain a healthy diet to reduce their overall risk.