Metabolic Syndrome Puts Teens at Risk

Your doctor may have told you to lose weight and watch your cholesterol. Now, your teen's doctor may be warning him or her to do the same.

The reason? "Syndrome X," or metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a name given to a cluster of risk factors related to the body's metabolism that can lead to health problems down the road, including an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes. The group of risk factors called metabolic syndrome appears to be most common in people who have abdominal obesity.

Metabolic syndrome has been studied in adults, but doctors think that teens who have it also face a high risk for the early onset of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, metabolic syndrome exists if you have three or more of the following: 

• Abdominal obesity— a waist circumference greater than 40 inches for men and greater than 35 inches for women

• High blood levels of triglycerides—150 mg/dl or greater

• Low blood levels of high-density lipoproteins—less than 40 mg/dl for men and less than 50 mg/dl for women

• High blood pressure—130/85 or higher

• Fasting blood glucose of 100 mg/dl or greater—an indication of insulin resistance

These factors are all interrelated, although obesity seems to be the prominent factor: The greater the obesity, the greater the risk for developing metabolic syndrome. Overweight children and teens are defined as being at or above the 85^th percentile of body mass index (BMI). Obese children and teens are at or above the 95^th percentile of BMI.

A person who is obese and sedentary is at higher risk for developing insulin resistance and high cholesterol levels in the body—increasing LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and decreasing HDL. High cholesterol levels are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Insulin resistance also may lead to high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Metabolic syndrome can be slowed if caught early. Lifestyle changes may even stop it. The most effective changes are weight reduction and increased physical activity. Just losing 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can help.