Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome: implications for dietetics practitioners.
The Metabolic Syndrome encompasses a set of laboratory and physical findings, including central adiposity, insulin resistance, hypertension, high triglycerides, and low HDL-cholesterol and several abnormalities in clotting and inflammatory markers. Using the definition provided by the Adult Treatment Panel III of the National Cholesterol Education Program, 24% of adult Americans have the Metabolic Syndrome. Central location of fat and release of fatty acids and cytokines from enlarged fat cells located in the intra-abdominal fat tissue provide the major agents that incite this syndrome. From a practical point of view, identifying dietary and lifestyle factors, including low levels of physical activity, are important in designing a diet and exercise program that can help individuals with the Metabolic Syndrome to reduce the associated detrimental health consequences.
Bray
George A
GA
Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA. brayga@pbrc.edu
Champagne
Catherine M
CM
D000005:Abdomen / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D001824:Body Constitution; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology