According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, 34.7% of the US adult population had metabolic syndrome in 2011-2012, and these numbers are on the rise.
Metabolic syndrome is a collection of conditions that increases the risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and it is diagnosed when testing shows any three or more of the five following criteria:
- Elevated blood pressure (greater than or equal to 130/85 mm Hg or use of blood pressure lowering medications).
- Elevated fasting blood sugar (greater than or equal to 100 mg/dl).
- Elevated fasting triglyceride level (≥150 mg/dl or above).
- Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (less than 40 mg/d for men and less than 50 mg/dl for women).
- Waist circumference greater than 102 cm in men or greater than 88 cm in women.
