Metabolic syndrome

From WikiCover

The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of the most dangerous risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

On June 25, 2007, in the Lancet, the International Diabetes Federation put forth a new definition to identify children and adolescents at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in later life.

Intrauterine events for the unborn child and factors during early development years predispose a child to disorders such as obesity, prediabetes, and metabolic syndrome. At the same time, urbanization, unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle are increasing the risks for the coming generations.

The definition is divided according to age-groups: age six to ten; ten to sixteen; and sixteen or older. Metabolic syndrome should not be diagnosed in children younger than ten, but that a strong message for weight reduction should be delivered for those with abdominal obesity.

For children age ten or older, metabolic syndrome can be diagnosed with abdominal obesity (using waist circumference percentiles) and the presence of two or more other clinical features (elevated triglycerides, low HDL-cholesterol, high blood pressure, increased plasma glucose).