Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is defined as a combination of overweight, fat and cholesterol metabolism disorders, high blood pressure and sugar metabolism disorders (hidden sugar problems) that predispose to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Metabolic syndrome is the result of increasingly sedentary lifestyles and consumption of diets with high energy density. In this important public health problem, the incidence of which is increasing in the world and in our country, even 5-10% weight loss in diagnosed individuals can control all components of metabolic syndrome.

According to studies conducted in Turkey, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in adults over the age of 20 is 29 percent in men and 41 percent in women. This increase is attributed to the fact that women are more prone to obesity as a result of slower metabolism. In our country, metabolic syndrome is more common especially in women living in urban areas due to low participation of women in working life, technological developments making life easier and lack of time for sportive activities.

Obesity is one of the most important causes of metabolic syndrome, resulting from modern lifestyle, increasing technology, changing habits and decreasing amount of movement. Detection of abdominal obesity (overweight) alone poses a significant risk for the development of the syndrome. Studies show that the most important determinant of abdominal obesity, which is associated with cardiovascular diseases, is waist circumference measurement. This is because insulin resistance, which forms the basis of metabolic syndrome, is caused by an increase in abdominal fat. Because insulin resistance is most easily determined by waist circumference measurement. A waist circumference above 102 cm in men and 88 cm in women indicates an increased risk.