Definition and Etiology of Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity and the metabolic syndrome have been known for a long time as major contributors to the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in adults. The prevalence of both conditions has been increasing in most parts of the world, probably due to urbanization and changes in life style. In U.S., for example, from 1988 – 1994 to 1999 – 2000, the metabolic syndrome increased by 23.5% in women and 2.2% in men. It has been estimated that 1.1 – 1.7 billion people worldwide are overweight and around 312 million of them are obese. Obesity is a major health challenge both in developing and developed countries. The prevalence of obesity has tripled in developing countries in the past 20 years, presumably due to adoption of a Western lifestyle. Obesity and the metabolic syndrome also impose a great burden on the health systems of developing countries.