High Risks For Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors that when occurring together are a reliable predictor for degenerative diseases, including atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke and diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic. A precise cause has not been determined, however, but certain genetic and lifestyle components have been identified. The Cleveland Clinic describes that many of the symptoms surrounding metabolic syndrome, also known as syndrome X, are associated with an underlying condition known as insulin resistance, which is an inability of the body to adequately modulate glucose and triglyceride levels.

Age

Metabolic syndrome occurs mostly in people older than 50 years. In the United States, 40 percent of those 60 years of age and older meet the criteria for this syndrome, according to the Mayo Clinic. Early signs are occasionally seen at younger ages, however because they have greater metabolic capacity and ability to accommodate diet and lifestyle stressors, young people with the genetic and lifestyle risks for metabolic syndrome tend to remain symptom-free and within normal limits on blood laboratory values.

Race

People of Hispanic and Asian descent are more prone to developing metabolic syndrome. In Asian populations, metabolic syndrome is found to be significantly higher in Indians than in Chinese or Malaysians, as reported by
the May 2004 Proceedings of the 13th International Atherosclerosis Symposium. In a March 2007 study published in the journal Diabetes Care, researchers found an association between high amounts of TV viewing time and metabolic syndrome in 450 elderly Hispanics. The correlation was independent of other factors, such as exercise, caloric intake or gender.

Obesity

Abdominal pattern of obesity--an apple shape, as opposed to a pear-shaped body--is more likely to result in metabolic syndrome. Waist-to-hip ratio is an even more specific determinant than abdominal girth alone. Hips wider than waist is the least likely proportion to be associated with metabolic syndrome. A study reported in the Dec. 11, 2007, edition of Science Daily showed that men with the biggest waist-to-hip ratio had a 55 percent higher chance of being diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Women in the top one-fifth of this weight distribution pattern had a 91 percent higher risk.

History of Diabetes

Family history of type 2 diabetes, also known as noninsulin-dependent diabetes or gestational diabetes, are risk factors that predispose an individual to developing metabolic syndrome. Diabetes carries with it certain medical complications, such as cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, and kidney and eye disorders, according to the website Power Surge. A family history makes an individual more susceptible to this condition.

Other Diseases

Other types of cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, which can damage arterial linings, leading to plaque formation, are predictors of syndrome X. In women, a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome is caused by a hormonal imbalance and is linked to syndrome X, according to Diabetes Net.