Dietary and Lifestyle Risk Factors and Metabolic Syndrome: Literature Review

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is considered a threat to public health due to its rapid growing prevalence worldwide. MetS can result from interrelated metabolic abnormalities including insulin resistance (IR), hypertension, dyslipidemia, and abdominal adiposity. Although the pathogenesis of this syndrome is not distinctly understood, it is strongly influenced by multiple genetic variations that interact with many environmental factors such as positive family history of MetS, adherence to unhealthy dietary patterns, low physical activity and smoking and that explain the variations in the prevalence of the MetS within and across populations. All of these factors were found to be associated with IR, obesity, and triglycerides elevation which therefore increase the risk of the MetS Several studies highlighted the effective preventive approach includes lifestyle changes, primarily losing weight, adopting healthy diet, and practicing exercise. All of the mentioned factors can reduce the risk of MetS.