Metabolic syndrome is a syndrome of insulin resistance. Obesity is known to promote insulin resistance, although not all insulin resistant individuals are overweight. Some people, who are not recognized as obese by established criteria, may still have insulin resistance. Many of these patient's, however, have fat distributions characterized by upper body fat. Upper body obesity is more strongly correlated to insulin resistance than lower body obesity. This may be related to higher levels of lipid accumulation in the muscles and liver of patient's with upper body obesity.
Metabolic Syndrome X Causes & Risk Factors
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National Academy of Sports Medicine answeredMetabolic syndrome is becoming more and more common in the United States and researchers are trying to discover whether the syndrome is due to one single cause, however all of the syndrome’s risk factors are related to obesity. The two primary risk factors are: Extra weight around the middle of the body (central obesity or adiposity). This is described as an “apple shaped” body (instead of a pear); Insulin resistance, in which the body cannot use insulin effectively. Insulin is needed to help your body metabolize carbohydrates. Weight loss of 5-7% is the first recommendation for people with metabolic syndrome to reduce their health risk. -
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Parkland Medical Center answeredMetabolic syndrome X is caused by several factors that are present at the same time. One is your body's inability to properly metabolize the insulin that it makes. Insulin is needed to help process the sugar, or glucose, which your body gets from the foods you eat. When the cells of your body are unable to accept the insulin's help in processing the glucose, the amount of glucose in your blood rises.
Other factors include excess abdominal fat, which raises the risk of high blood pressure as well as type 2 diabetes, gout, fatty liver, coronary artery disease, and obstructive sleep apnea, among other problems.
When a large waist circumference is present with two or more other symptoms -- high blood pressure, high levels of bad cholesterol, low levels of good cholesterol, or high blood sugar -- metabolic syndrome X is usually diagnosed. -
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Parkland Medical Center answeredIn relation to metabolic syndrome X, the term "apple shaped" refers to carrying your weight around the middle of your body. Storing your fat around the midsection puts you at greater risk for metabolic syndrome X. Excess fat in the abdominal area has been linked to coronary artery disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and other dangerous conditions. When treating metabolic syndrome X, your doctor will focus on reducing the excess weight around your middle to decrease your risk of complications.
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Parkland Medical Center answered
Risk for metabolic syndrome X is increased by genetic predisposition, age, gender, medical history, and weight. If you are genetically predisposed, meaning you have a family history of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease or obesity, then your risk for metabolic syndrome X is definitely increased. Also, the older you are the more your bodily functions deteriorate and the higher your risk for the metabolic factors. Gender plays a role in your risk for metabolic syndrome X, as women who have gone through menopause and men at any age are more likely to carry excess fat around their middle.
If you have a medical history of gestational diabetes while you were pregnant, you are more likely to have type 2 diabetes when you are older. Having diabetes also increases your risk for metabolic syndrome X. If you are overweight, especially if you carry excess fat around the middle, you are at a much greater risk for metabolic syndrome X.
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Parkland Medical Center answered
Men tend to have a naturally greater risk for metabolic syndrome X, as they are more prone to carrying weight around their middle. The excess weight carried in the middle throughout a man's life places him at a slightly higher risk for metabolic syndrome X than a woman who typically see excess abdominal fat after she has gone through menopause. However, women who suffer from polycystic ovary disease may have an increased risk given that the malfunction in hormone production that causes polycystic ovary disease has also been linked to the risk for metabolic syndrome X.
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The components that make up metabolic syndrome X can run in families. If you have a family history of diabetes, elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, or heart disease then you are at greater risk for metabolic syndrome X. Knowing your family history and getting regular checkups can prevent multiple factors of metabolic syndrome X. Also, if you know that you or your family members are at greater risk because of a family history, encourage the ones you love to get checked out as soon as possible.
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Dr. Melissa B. Bagloo, MD , Bariatric Medicine (Obesity Medicine), answered on behalf of Columbia University Department of SurgeryThe biggest risk factor is obesity. Patients who are obese are at a much higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome and the medical problems that go along with it. Cardiac risks are another major factor, because the risk factors for developing heart disease and vascular disease are much more elevated in patients who have metabolic syndrome. In the long term, those risks can have serious effects on patients' health and the quality of their life.