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Metabolic syndrome has been recognized since (at least) the 1920's, however, it has had many different labels throughout the years. Metabolic syndrome is a disorder which often includes a beer belly, high blood pressure, poor cholesterol readings and high blood sugar and triglyceride levels and low levels of HDL.

Metabolic syndrome is not considered a single disease; rather, a cluster of health problems. In addition, the word "metabolic" will more than likely cause one to assume this means a defective metaboism. While this may be true in some cases, it will and/or does not apply to all cases. The connection to diabetes is that metabolic syndrome greatly increases the risk level of diabetes as well as heart attacks and stroke.

At least 47-million American adults are afflicted with metabolic syndrome. That is about one if five of us.

Experts say the highest contributing factors to this syndrome is overeating, a combination of genes and lack of exercise. A recent study came up with some definite statistics:

  • 50 to 60 million Americans have hypertension
  • About 60 percent of adults qualify as overweight or obese
  • There are 16 million Americans with diabetes

According to the NIH definition, metabolic disorder is present if a patient has any three or more symptoms: a waist measuring at least 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women; levels of triglycerides -- fats that circulate in the blood - of at least 150 milligrams per deciliter; HDL levels of less than 40 mgs in men and less than 50 mgs in women; blood pressure of at least 135/80; and blood sugar of at least 110 mgs.

Studies now estimate 22-percent of American adults have the syndrome. The percentage for men verses women were nearly equal: Men, 24-percent and women, 23.4-percent. The percentages increased as the age brackets went up.

Experts feel there will be many patients who have multiple symptoms and that now physicians will be better equiped to help them. This syndrome is said to be "lifestyle-sensitive", meaning if one learns and practices better diet and exercise habits, they can control and/or avert this syndrome entirely. They will also reap huge rewards.

Metabolic Syndrome and Soda

People who drink at least one (regular or diet) soda a day are more likely to be diagnosed with the metabolic syndrome, say researchers who tracked roughly 9,000 men and women for four years.

The risk of being diagnosed with metabolic syndrome was 44 percent higher in people who consumed at least one soft drink a day than in those who consumed less.

To stay trim, avoid sugar-sweetened sodas. But based on just one study, it's too early to say whether or not diet soda might lead to weight gain and other features of the metabolic syndrome.

Odds are that the diet soda drinkers in this study did other things that increased their risk. For example, they ate more bad fat and less fiber, and they were more likely to smoke. The researchers did adjust for those and other known "confounders", but they could have missed others.

Your best option: Drink water.

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