The metabolic syndrome is the main cause of most of all modern diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, glucose intolerance, cancer and many others.
Metabolic syndrome is defined when at least 2 of these parameters are not within normal values and the most important is the abdominal circumference (to be measured at navel-umbilicus height):
Abdominal circumference (ethnicity specific values, here for europids)
≥ 94 cm for men
≥ 80 cm for women
Triglycerides
≥ 150 mg/dl
HDL cholesterol
< 40 mg/dl men
< 50 mg/dl women
Blood pressure (systolic/diastolic)
≥ 130/85 mmHg
Glycaemia (Fasting Plasma Glucose – FSP)
≥ 100 mg/dl
These parameters are worldwide defined in the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) consensus (pdf). This document is available at this link (download at the bottom):
You want to stay healthy? Then check with your doctor all these parameters and manage them by
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- adapting your nutrition to a Mediterranean One (a lot of vegetables, whole grains, pulses, fish)
- calorie restriction
- increase in physical activity
I invite you to deepen your knowledge by participating in the online courses offered by the Metabolism Academy (www. metabolismacademy.com).