What is metabolic syndrome?
Metabolism refers to all the different chemical processes that go on in your body. Metabolic syndrome is a group of health problems that involve your metabolism and give you a higher chance of having heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Metabolic syndrome is very common in the United States. People with metabolic syndrome have:
-
A lot of fat around their waist
-
High blood sugar (including diabetes)
-
High levels of fats in their blood
What causes metabolic syndrome?
The cause of metabolic syndrome isn't known.
You're more likely to get metabolic syndrome if you store fat around your belly (you're apple-shaped) instead of your hips (you're pear-shaped). This happens in:
-
Most men
-
Women after menopause
Metabolic syndrome can affect children and teens as well.
What are the symptoms of metabolic syndrome?
How can doctors tell if I have metabolic syndrome?
How do doctors treat metabolic syndrome?
Doctors will help you lose weight by having you eat a healthier diet and exercise more. They'll also give you medicines to treat any diseases you have, such as:
-
Diabetes or high blood sugar
-
High fat levels in your blood
