Metabolic Syndrome: The Modern Disease
Metabolic syndrome is not a single disease, is the association of several metabolic abnormalities. This is the end point of two situations: central obesity (located in the abdomen) and insulin resistance, a reaction brought about by obesity and inactivity and that precedes diabetes. But it also includes changes in the metabolism of glucose (sugar) in particular, mild fasting hyperglycemia (110-126 mg/dl), lipid disorders, ie, elevated triglycerides (150-250 mg/dl), decrease HDL cholesterol (commonly known as “good” cholesterol) and mild hypertension.
All these metabolic abnormalities are considered as such when they exceed certain cut off according to different classifications of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Adult Treatment Panel (ATP-III) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). It is considered that a person has metabolic syndrome when it meets at least three of the above criteria.
Modern disease
The metabolic syndrome extends in modern societies so unstoppable. The WHO has described obesity as a global epidemic of XXI century and the public health problem number one. When excess weight is associated, among other diseases, diabetes and, of course, the metabolic syndrome. Diseases are favored by urban life and changes in lifestyles and diet, as an abandonment of a traditional diet rich in vegetables, cereals and fruit to a fast Western diet, high in fat and calories and low in fiber (hamburger, fries, pizza and cola drinks).
It does not help the decline of physical activity related to the mechanization of daily activities and changes in recreational events for adults and especially children. This pairing of poor diet and sedentary lifestyle has led to an increase in the population affected by overweight and obesity. And it went from overweight to metabolic changes that accompany obesity.
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