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Lifestyle Factors that Effect the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome also known as Syndrome X is a combination of five different risk factors
that increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke. These five risk factors include obesity
particularly in the waistline known as android obesity; Insulin resistance, which leads to an increase in
fasting blood glucose levels; Hypertension with blood pressure higher than 130/85 mmHg; lowered HDL
levels; and high serum triglycerides. Individuals must have at least three of these risk factors to be
diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (1). The target audiences for this topic are health professionals and
health educators who are focused on improving the health of at-risk individuals. Health professionals,
such as registered dieticians and doctors focused on improving the health of at risk individuals, would
find this information very useful. Health educators can also use the information discussed in this paper to
educate the population of the increasing health risks and advise ways to implement prevention into their
everyday lives. Due to the rise in obesity, metabolic syndrome is becoming more prevalent. About fortytwo million Americans are diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (2). The articles discussed in this paper
address particular lifestyle factors that can be modified to improve health. The first two articles look into
the effects physical activity and diet may have on metabolic syndrome. Where the third article explores
how smoking can increase the risk of metabolic syndrome. The purpose of this paper is to explore the
effects of metabolic syndrome on men and women, while focusing on modifiable lifestyle habits that can
increase or decrease the risk factors of metabolic syndrome. Several clinical trials are being performed to
discover how these habits may impact the severity and cause of metabolic syndrome.
The first article, Physical Activity and the Metabolic Syndrome in Canada written by Susan E.
Brien and Peter T. Katzmarzyk, reviews the benefits of physical activity in the prevention and treatment
of metabolic syndrome. It examines the connection between low physical activity and the prevalence of
metabolic syndrome. This was a cross sectional survey where several subjects throughout Canada
participated. The subjects were classified into two groups, physically active and inactive. The physically
active group participated in at least thirty minutes of exercise per week. Nurses collected the Canadian
Heart Health Survey, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements, a fasting blood sample, and
fasting plasma of triglycerides and HDL. Once the data was collected, logistic regression was used to
predict the components of metabolic syndrome. Age, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and income
were used as covaries. Using the statistical analysis, it was determined that physically active individuals
were less likely to have metabolic syndrome by fifty percent. A follow up was performed several years
later and it revealed that subjects who increased their physical activity had a decrease in the risk of all the
risk factors contributing to metabolic syndrome. These results reveal that people who do not exercise
regularly are at a higher risk of developing health problems. This study is relevant because it did not
require the subjects to make any lifestyle changes, but showed the negative effects a sedentary lifestyle
can cause. It portrays physical activity as an important tool in preventing or curing metabolic syndrome.
Along with lack of exercise, poor diet can contribute to the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Therefore,
implementing a well balanced diet is important.
Overconsumption of calorie dense and highly processed foods has become increasingly common
(4). One of the best ways to prevent metabolic syndrome is to improve poor eating habits. The article,
Enhancement of a Modified Mediterranean-style, low glycemic load diet with specific phytochemicals
Improves Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome and
Hypercholesterolnemia in a Randomized Trial looks into the benefits of the Mediterranean diet and
phytochemicals to eliminate risk factors. In this randomized twelve-week study, forty-nine subjects
between the ages of twenty-five and eighty with metabolic syndrome and hypercholesteronemia
participated. The subjects needed to have a BMI greater than twenty-seven and a waist circumference
greater than 88 centimeters in women and 102 centimeters in men. A base-line screening of serum lipids,
fasting blood glucose, a complete metabolic panel, and a complete blood count were also collected. The
subjects were separated into two groups. The first twenty-three participants were given a modified
Mediterranean-style diet with a low glycemic load and high in phytochemicals labeled MED. The second
group of twenty-six subjects received a Phytochemical enriched diet labeled PED. They received a

combination of soy protein and plant sterols in a powdered beverage. They were also instructed to eat
three meals a day with snacks until full. Both groups were required to exercise about 150 min per week.
The subjects would return every two weeks to submit a three-day diet diary and seven-day exercise diary.
Fasting blood glucose was taken again at weeks eight and twelve. The base-line values were used as a
control because the subjects had not participated in weight loss activities six weeks prior to the study.
Twenty-three subjects finished the PED trial and eighteen completed the MED trial. The data revealed
that both groups experienced weight loss. Cholesterol levels decreased in both PED and MED subjects,
but there was no significant change over time in the PED group. Fasting glucose only revealed a decrease
in the MED group after twelve weeks. At the end of the trial, nine of the PED and four of the MED
subjects no longer fit the criteria for metabolic syndrome. This article reveals how important it can be to
modify dietary and implement more exercise into lifestyle. There were significant changes within twelve
weeks of the study. If the subjects were to maintain a better diet and exercise regularly, they could
possibly see further improvement to health. While diet and exercise are the first two steps for treatment
and prevention, it is also important to look at another lifestyle factor that does not affect everyone, but
does increase the risk factors of metabolic syndrome.
The final article is Association Among Cigarette Smoking, Metabolic Syndrome, and Its
Individual Components. The Metabolic Syndrome. The authors Chen CC, Li TC, et al explored the
association between metabolic syndrome and smoking. A total of 2,359 men agreed to participate in the
study. The subjects were separated into three groups: non-smokers, former smokers, and current smokers.
Each individual was given a questionnaire to assess medical history, smoking habits, alcohol
consumption, and physical activity. An overnight fast was also required. Height, weight, waist
circumference, blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose were recorded. There was not a significant
difference between waist circumference and BMI between smokers and non-smokers. Current smokers
had higher levels of triglycerides. The results revealed that current smokers had the highest risk of
developing metabolic syndrome due to abnormalities in triglyceride and HDL levels. Smoking increases
the risk of high triglycerides and low HDL levels. This study reveals that smoking can increase two risk
factor components of metabolic syndrome. If a smoker is obese or has diabetes, there risk for developing
metabolic syndrome would increase more than a nonsmoker with diabetes. This study is important
because it provides professionals with data that can be used in the future to help prevent the increasing
rates of metabolic syndrome. It may not be easy, but it is important for people who are at risk or have
metabolic syndrome to reduce or quit smoking.
Finally, all three articles address lifestyle factors that can contribute to increasing the risk factors
of metabolic syndrome. In the first two articles, the researchers explore the impact diet and exercise can
have on health. Together diet and exercise have significant results in treatment and prevention. Physical
activity alone decreased the risk, but when implemented with a diet low in calories and fat the best results
were recorded. The Mediterranean and phytochemical diet with regular exercise appeared to reveal the
best results in patients with metabolic syndrome. A few of the subjects were able to eliminate some of the
components completely. The final article, addresses how smoking can increase the risk of metabolic
syndrome. The results of the study allowed researchers to come to the conclusion that smoking could
have detrimental effects on health over long periods of time. These two topics of research are very
important because improving these lifestyle choices could reduce or eliminate the risk factors associated
with metabolic syndrome. Although smoking does not apply to everyone, it is important to be aware of
the effects smoking can have on metabolic syndrome.
This information can be very beneficial to health educators particularly during this time where
obesity and other health related problems are currently on the rise in this country. Raising awareness of
the consequences of metabolic syndrome is a great prevention tool for these educators. Increasing the
health awareness of several individuals who are at risk or have developed metabolic concerns may
decrease the development of metabolic syndrome. Dieticians and doctors would find this information
very useful because it can be very helpful in the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome. These
health professionals can tell them statistics of the studies to prove that making changes can decrease their
risk of developing metabolic syndrome or reduce the severity of an existing health problem. Health

professionals can use this information as a tool to provide good examples of lifestyle changes that can be
made to improve the health of the nation. Considering this is a fairly new topic, researchers are continuing
to find new ways to treat metabolic syndrome. Nutritional science is always changing and researchers are
making new discoveries that could change the information on metabolic syndrome. There is still quite a
bit of information to be learned about this topic and with increasing technologies, more studies will
continue to be done. Research is now being conducted to discover more factors that may contribute to the
onset of metabolic syndrome risk factors. For example, the hormonal imbalances that can occur due to
polycystic ovary syndrome and how it can increase risk factors that lead to metabolic syndrome.

References
1.http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ms/. Accessed November 2, 2012.
2.//www.webmd.com/heart/metabolic-syndrome/metabolic-syndrome-what-is-it. Accessed November 7,
2012.
3.Brien S, Katzmarzyk P. Physical activity and the metabolic syndrome in Canada. Applied Physiology,
Nutrition & Metabolism [serial online]. February 2006;31(1):40-47. Available from: Academic Search
Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 7, 2012.
4.Enhancement of a modified Mediterranean-style, low glycemic load diet with specific phytochemicals
improves cardiometabolic risk factors in subjects with metabolic syndrome and hypercholesterolemia in a
randomized trial. Nutrition & Metabolism [serial online]. January 2008;5:29-42. Available from:
Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 4, 2012.
5.Chen CC, Li TC, Chang PC, et al. Association among cigarette smoking, metabolic syndrome, and its
individual components: the metabolic syndrome study in Taiwan. Metab Clin Exp. 2008;57(4):544-8.