The Global Epidemic of the Metabolic Syndrome

Datos Bibliográficos

ID23362014
AutoresMohammad G Saklayen (0000-0002-1187-1886, Wright State University, autor de correspondencia)
Año2018
Volumen20
Número2
Páginas12-12
Fecha de publicación2018-02-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaCurrent Hypertension Reports (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1522-6417 • E-ISSN: 1534-3111
EditorialSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s11906-018-0812-z
PMID29480368
OpenAlexW2793435470
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas120
Referencias citadas52

Metabolic syndrome, variously known also as syndrome X, insulin resistance, etc., is defined by WHO as a pathologic condition characterized by abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Though there is some variation in the definition by other health care organization, the differences are minor. With the successful conquest of communicable infectious diseases in most of the world, this new non-communicable disease (NCD) has become the major health hazard of modern world. Though it started in the Western world, with the spread of the Western lifestyle across the globe, it has become now a truly global problem. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is often more in the urban population of some developing countries than in its Western counterparts. The two basic forces spreading this malady are the increase in consumption of high calorie-low fiber fast food and the decrease in physical activity due to mechanized transportations and sedentary form of leisure time activities. The syndrome feeds into the spread of the diseases like type 2 diabetes, coronary diseases, stroke, and other disabilities. The total cost of the malady including the cost of health care and loss of potential economic activity is in trillions. The present trend is not sustainable unless a magic cure is found (unlikely) or concerted global/governmental/societal efforts are made to change the lifestyle that is promoting it. There are certainly some elements in the causation of the metabolic syndrome that cannot be changed but many are amenable for corrections and curtailments. For example, better urban planning to encourage active lifestyle, subsidizing consumption of whole grains and possible taxing high calorie snacks, restricting media advertisement of unhealthy food, etc. Revitalizing old fashion healthier lifestyle, promoting old-fashioned foods using healthy herbs rather than oil and sugar, and educating people about choosing healthy/wholesome food over junks are among the steps that can be considered.

Development economics · Disease · Economic growth · Environmental health · Epidemiological transition · Global health · Health care · Insulin resistance · Metabolic syndrome · Obesity · Population · Public health · Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins · Diet, Metabolism, and Disease · Internal Medicine · Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment · Medicine · Gerontology