Abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome

Nature. 2006 Dec 14;444(7121):881-7. doi: 10.1038/nature05488.

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is associated with abdominal obesity, blood lipid disorders, inflammation, insulin resistance or full-blown diabetes, and increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Proposed criteria for identifying patients with metabolic syndrome have contributed greatly to preventive medicine, but the value of metabolic syndrome as a scientific concept remains controversial. The presence of metabolic syndrome alone cannot predict global cardiovascular disease risk. But abdominal obesity - the most prevalent manifestation of metabolic syndrome - is a marker of 'dysfunctional adipose tissue', and is of central importance in clinical diagnosis. Better risk assessment algorithms are needed to quantify diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk on a global scale.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abdomen / pathology*
  • Adiposity
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Metabolic Syndrome / complications
  • Metabolic Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Metabolic Syndrome / metabolism
  • Metabolic Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • Obesity / complications
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Obesity / physiopathology*
  • Risk Assessment