Big waistline and metabolic syndrome-where is the stress connection?

Big waistline and metabolic syndrome are linked, and I am sure it will come as a big surprise to many of you to know that there are 47 million people in the US with this syndrome, and many of them are baby boomers.

So let us see how big waistline and metabolic syndrome relate to each other. What is metabolic syndrome about? How is it defined? How do you know that your waistline is big?

According to the new IDF definition, for a person to be defined as having the metabolic syndrome they must have:

1. Central obesity (defined as waist circumference: above > 35 inches (women) and above > 40 inches (men) with ethnicity specific values) plus any two of the following four factors:

2. Raised triglycerides above 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L) or specific treatment for this lipid abnormality

3. Reduced HDL cholesterol

below 40 mg/dL (1.03 mmol/L) in males

below 50 mg/dL (1.29 mmol/L) in females

or specific treatment for this lipid abnormality

4. Raised blood pressure

systolic BP > 130 or diastolic BP > 85 mm Hg

or treatment of previously diagnosed hypertension

5. Raised fasting plasma glucose

(FPG) > 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L),

or previously diagnosed type 2 diabetes

If above 5.6 mmol/L or 100 mg/dL, OGTT is strongly recommended but is not necessary to define presence of the syndrome

* If BMI is >30, central obesity can be assumed and waist circumference does not need to be measured. Normal BMI is below 25

It is enough to have just 3 out of these 5 factors to be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. The more factors the greater the risk for heart attack, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

New data suggests that big waistline and metabolic syndrome also contributes to cognitive decline, kidney disease, liver disease and cancer (doubles the risk of prostate cancer for men).

The big five are to be taken very seriously when in a cluster. While a blood pressure of 130/85 mmHg is considered only a prehypertension, when in combination with two or more of the other risks factors it defines a metabolic syndrome.

Abdominal (central) obesity (I call it the Big Bad Fat) expands the waistline and plays a major role. Unlike fat cells in the buttocks and thighs, fat around the abdominal organs resists the action of insulin, which can lead to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. It also releases free fatty acids that are deposited in the liver, and is damaging for the heart.

This is why big waistline and metabolic syndrome are related but they are also connected to another major player.

Yes. You are right. STRESS. Read more about Waistline and stress

So what do you do if you have high blood pressure (> 140/90 mmHg) or prehypertension (120-139/80-89 mmHg) or fasting blood glucose > 110 mg/dL but < 125 mg/dL or none of the above, but heart disease or diabetes runs in your family?

Start with a tape measure to get an idea of your own heart risk. Then I recommend that you take care of it by using some practical solutions.

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