Metabolic syndrome is caused by lifestyle conditions and habits that create serious health problems, such as obesity, high blood pressure, and blood sugar problems. If we eat too much of the wrong foods and don’t exercise, we gain weight. If we smoke and drink, we put ourselves at risk of developing health problems. All these things can contribute to metabolic syndrome.
Therefore, metabolic syndrome has been defined as being a modern lifestyle condition, caused by modern lifestyle living. The main factors that can put anyone at risk of metabolic syndrome include the following:
Unhealthy Lifestyle
Metabolic syndrome is seen as a health problem resulting from an unbalanced, unhealthy lifestyle. It is closely related to obesity and a lack of physical activity. The convenience of modern life and consistency of stress leaves us with a diminished capacity to prioritize our health. Too often we succumb to unwise decisions in terms of our choices of food, habits, and activities.
Lack of Physical Activity
A lack of physical activity or exercise is a major cause of metabolic syndrome. Lack of exercise can cause the storage of unwanted fat that leads to metabolic syndrome and a variety of other health conditions. As a rule of thumb, a minimum of 30-minutes exercise at least 5 days a week can reduce your chances of developing this condition. The more you exert yourself to move and stay active, the better off your health will be.
Being Overweight or Obese
The leading cause of metabolic syndrome is being overweight or obese. The presence of other conditions is needed for a positive diagnosis, but these conditions all stem from or relate to the same inputs that cause obesity. Unhealthy eating habits and a lack of physical activity will further exacerbate obesity and the other health problems that contribute to metabolic syndrome.
No matter what your lifestyle is, it’s important to stay health-conscious and mindful of your diet and weight. If you feel your weight is starting to go up, start being more mindful of your diet and exercise.
Putting on extra weight and excess body fat is a breeding ground for many diseases, including metabolic syndrome, and the likelihood of developing cardiovascular sickness that can be life-threatening. Watch for the build-up of fat especially around the abdomen area. If you start seeing a belly bulge it’s time to make aggressive lifestyle changes, to reverse and prevent metabolic syndrome.
Aging
The chances of developing metabolic syndrome also increase as a person ages. More than 40% of people diagnosed with metabolic syndrome are aged between 60 and 70. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among this group of patients can be attributed to changes in body composition. This is due largely to the compounding effects of increasingly reduced movement and poor dietary choices.
Gradual deterioration of homeostatic maintenance processes and physiological decline in growth hormones are noticeably noted in senior citizens, which makes this group of people more susceptible to various cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors.
Although metabolic syndrome is more common in elderly people, cultivating a healthy lifestyle and diet still plays a huge role in slowing down the potential adverse effects of metabolic syndrome.
Genetic Factors
Genetic factors appear to contribute an added risk in the development of metabolic syndrome. The nature of a person’s genes can definitely raise the odds as it does in many health-related instances. A doctor who diagnoses metabolic syndrome often takes into consideration the medical history of their patient’s family, as genetics cannot be over-ruled.
There are also certain health conditions that can put a person at a greater risk of developing metabolic syndrome. If you’ve ever had nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), sleep apnea, or gallstones, for example, the chances of developing metabolic syndrome are greater.
