Review: Metabolic Syndrome in Black South African Women

Abstract

<p class="Pa7">The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increasing in African populations, and is particularly high in Black South African women (42%) vs women in the United Kingdom (23%) and the United States of America (36%). This population group is also known to have the highest prevalence of obesity in the sub-Saharan African region (42%), and consequently, a high risk of non-communicable diseases. In this article, we discuss factors (abdominal subcutane­ous fat, visceral fat, lean mass, adiponectin, leptin, vitamin D, smoking and menopausal status) that have been investigated for their possible association with metabolic syn­drome in African women, and discuss some recommendations for management of the syndrome. In particular, the infrastructural development of HIV/AIDS clinics in South Africa provides an ideal integrated platform to cater to the treatment needs of patients with multiple chronic morbidities. <em></em></p><p class="Pa7"><em>Ethn Dis. </em>2017(27):189-200; doi:10.18865/ed.27.2.189</p><p><br /><strong> </strong></p>