What Percentage Of Americans Have Metabolic Syndrome?

Due to sedentary lifestyle, high processed diet and consumption of packaged products, one in five adult people in the United States is suffering from metabolic syndrome.^[1] Obesity and low HDL levels are most important factors for metabolic syndrome in United Sates.

The data related to prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the United States is analyzed as per the report of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Various criteria should be met for categorizing the person in the ambit of metabolic syndrome. The data reported in 1988-1994 concluded the prevalence of metabolic syndrome to approximately 24%.^[2]

The data was analyzed in 1999-2000 and 2009-2010 and it was found that in 1999-2000 the prevalence of the disease was approximately 26% while in 2009-2010, it was 23%. Thus, it can be stated that one in every five people in the United States meet the criteria defined for metabolic syndrome. It has also been found that out of all the risk factors mentioned for metabolic syndrome, the most prominent risk factor found in the US adults was obesity or want circumference. Further, the patients are also suffering from low HDL levels.

Recent report highlights the fact that metabolic syndrome is more prevalent in young adults and that may be due to the lifestyle and diet.^[3] Another data projects the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in United States in the period 2003-2012 as 33% and women were having higher prevalence as compared to men. Further, the highest prevalence was seen in Hispanics. After Hispanics comes the non-Hispanic white and then non-Hispanics black.^[4]

Metabolic syndrome is defined as the cluster of conditions that, if present together, may increase the chances of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Various parameters are identified for categorizing the person in the ambit of metabolic syndrome. The person satisfying those parameters is said to have metabolic syndrome. Various risk factors include abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, blood sugar level, triglyceride level and low HDL level. All these risk parameters are associated with each other and debate among the researchers regarding the dependency of these factors on one another exists.^[5] According to World Health Organization, the criteria of categorizing a person in metabolic syndrome is presence of any one of diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose and any two of the following:

• Urinary albumin excretion ratio ≥20 mcg/min
• Triglycerides ≥ 1.695 mmol/L and HDL level ≤ 0.9 mmol/L (male), ≤ 1.0 mmol/L (female)
• Blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg
• Waist. hip ratio > 0.90 (male); > 0.85 (female), or BMI > 30 kg/m2

Various other organizations also have their own criteria of determining Metabolic syndrome parameters.

As already mentioned, that metabolic syndrome is the cluster of conditions that if present may increase the risk of various diseases and if the diseases are not managed, may lead to life threatening consequences. Following are the various risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome:

Abdominal Obesity: Abdominal obesity is defined as the deposition of fats in the abdomen or belly. It is been calculated either in the form of waist: hip ratio or in the form of body mass index. Abdominal fat contains large amount of adipose tissue. Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and insulin resistance.

Insulin Resistance: Insulin resistance increases the chances of diseases such as cardiovascular disease or polycystic ovary syndrome further, it also imbalances the level of cholesterol in the body.

Hypertension: Hypertension is defined as the high blood pressure which is more than 140/90 and if the condition is not managed, may lead to vascular disease and stroke. Changes in lifestyle, diet and exercise are the initial management therapy for hypertension.

Triglycerides: High level of triglycerides increases the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Triglycerides are produces in liver and increase the risk of metabolic syndrome.

Impaired Glucose Tolerance: When there is a impaired glucose tolerance and the level are not as per the conditions require for diabetes, the condition is said to be pre-diabetic.^[6]

The recent data for metabolic syndrome in United Sates has estimated the prevalence to 33% with more women suffering from the condition than men. It has been found that metabolic syndrome is more prevalent in young adults and obesity and low HDL are the primary risk factors for metabolic syndrome in United States.

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• Can Strength Training Protect You From Metabolic Syndrome?