Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Brazilian Adults

Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors that increase your chances of developing cardiovascular ailments and other health problems like diabetes, etc.

Metabolic syndrome is also referred to as metabolic syndrome X, insulin resistance syndrome, obesity syndrome, dysmetabolic syndrome, cardiometabolic syndrome, hypertriglyceridemic waist, Reaven’s syndrome, syndrome X and CHAOS (in Australia).

Metabolic Syndrome - Treatment
Alteration in lifestyle should be the first line of treatment for metabolic syndrome and this involves increase in physical activity with a restricted diet.

It generally affects people who are obese, old, have resistance to insulin and follow a sedentary lifestyle. Stress is an important cause of metabolic syndrome. Other significant causes are overweight, aging, genetic factors, endocrine disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome, etc.

With rise in obesity across the world, metabolic syndrome is becoming a major health concern. It may soon supersede smoking as the principal risk factor for heart problems. A healthy lifestyle promises you safety against the development of metabolic syndrome.

Keeping in mind the increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome, a study was conducted by Eliane Said Dutra and his colleagues and was published in the journal of Diabetology and Metabolic Syndrome, 2012.

A Healthy Lifestyle Reduces Metabolic Syndrome
Allowing people to adopt healthy lifestyle practices like a healthy diet rich in fiber and adequate physical activity may go a long way in reducing the incidence of metabolic syndrome.

The researchers conducted a population-based study in the year 2007 that enrolled 2130 adults (both men and women) in Federal District of Brazil.

The experts discovered that there was no gender difference in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. In men, hypertension was the commonest predictor of metabolic syndrome while in women, it was abdominal obesity.

The prevalence of the syndrome increased with the advancement in weight and age. In females, higher education level was seen as a protective tool against metabolic syndrome.

However no relationship existed between behavioral variables and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.

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The conclusion drawn from the study was that attempts should be made to bridge the differences in the educational inequalities among women in order to alleviate the health standard in women. In a nutshell, it can be said that the study was effective in providing comprehensive and alarming data regarding the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the adult population of Federal District of Brazil.

Reference:

Metabolic syndrome in central Brazil: prevalence and correlates in the adult population; Eliane Said Dutra et al; Diabetology and Metabolic Syndrome 2012

Source-Medindia