Weight gain and lifestyle risk factors for developing metabolic syndrome

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by a clustering of individual risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. These risk factors include high blood pressure, high fasting glucose, dyslipidemia (high triglycerides and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL]), and central obesity. Clinical definitions of the MetS, proposed by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI), include 3 of these 5 abnormalities. Population-based studies estimate that 10–30% of adults have variably defined MetS. The MetS is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease/events, allcause mortality (1.5-fold), and type 2 diabetes (>4-fold), as well as increased health costs. Thus, effective treatment and prevention of MetS could yield significant health and economic benefits worldwide. In addition, identification of the main risk factors for the MetS is required to generate research evidence of effectiveness to inform guidelines and practice.