NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is increasing among U.S. adults, and will likely lead to increases in diabetes and heart disease, results of a study published in the October issue of Diabetes Care suggest.

The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions, including high levels of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, and abdominal obesity, which together greatly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2, or adult-onset, diabetes.

Dr. Earl S. Ford and colleagues from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, studied 6436 men and women at least 20 years of age who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III (1988-1994) and 1677 subjects from NHANES 1999 to 2000.

Subjects who met at least three of the following criteria were defined as having the metabolic syndrome: abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, low high-density cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol), high blood pressure and high fasting blood sugar levels.

After adjusting the data for age, the team observed an increase in the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome of 23.5 percent in women and 2.2 percent in men.

The increase in the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, especially among women, was mainly accounted for by increases in high blood pressure, waist circumference, and high triglyceride levels.

"To stem the rising tides of obesity and the metabolic syndrome, comprehensive approaches for improving nutrition and physical activity habits that target both individuals and the population are required," the researchers write.

"Health care professionals have a critical role in preventing the development of the metabolic syndrome in their patients through weight management and the achievement of proper physical activity levels," they add.

SOURCE: Diabetes Care, October 2004.

• More news on Metabolic Syndrome X
• More news on Obesity

Related MedlinePlus Pages:

• Metabolic Syndrome X
• Obesity