What is Metabolic Syndrome?

Definition of Metabolic Syndrome:

Metabolic Syndrome is a name that is given to a list of risk factors that can increase a person’s chance of having a chronic illness such as heart disease or diabetes. If a doctor tells you that you have metabolic syndrome, it means at least 3 of the following are applicable to you:

1. you carry excess weight in your belly – not your hips or thighs, but belly fat
2. you have a low HDL level
3. you have high triglycerides (blood fat)
4. higher fasting blood sugar level
5. higher blood pressure

People can develop this due to lack of adequate physical activity, poor diet, and weight gain. Insulin resistance is also a factor. This is where the body resists the hormone insulin and doesn’t respond to it, so glucose levels stay too high. This can lead to type-2 diabetes.