Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome
Dr. James Jarrett practices nutritional medicine in Victoria, TX. Dr. Jarrett has received an education on and advises people on matters of food and nutrition, considering how they both impact health. Nutritionists help patients choose the right things to eat, help them plan menus, and advise them on the health effects... more
Original content from the Mayo Clinic
"Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of health conditions that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. These conditions include increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels.
Having just one of these conditions doesn't mean you have metabolic syndrome. But it does mean you have a greater risk of serious disease. And if you develop more of these conditions, your risk of complications, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, rises even higher.
Metabolic syndrome is increasingly common, and up to one-third of U.S. adults have it. If you have metabolic syndrome or any of its components, aggressive lifestyle changes can delay or even prevent the development of serious health problems.
Symptoms
Most of the disorders associated with metabolic syndrome don't have obvious signs or symptoms. One sign that is visible is a large waist circumference. And if your blood sugar is high, you might notice the signs and symptoms of diabetes — such as increased thirst and urination, fatigue, and blurred vision.
Causes
Metabolic syndrome is closely linked to overweight or obesity and inactivity.
It's also linked to a condition called insulin resistance. Normally, your digestive system breaks down the foods you eat into sugar. Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas that helps sugar enter your cells to be used as fuel.
In people with insulin resistance, cells don't respond normally to insulin and glucose can't enter the cells as easily. As a result, your blood sugar levels rise even as your body churns out more and more insulin to try to lower your blood sugar.
If you have any of these symptoms I would encourage you to see a doctor or make an appointment with me to determine how your risk factors may increase your chances of having metabolic syndrome and what healthy lifestyle changes you can make to prevent the conditions that cause metabolic syndrome."
