Unless you’ve had personal experience of it, metabolic syndrome may be something you’re unfamiliar with. The term was coined in 1988 to refer to a cluster of health problems commonly experienced as we age – and it’s becoming increasingly widespread. 

According to the charity Heart UK, this group of conditions affects as many as one in four adults in the UK, and it increases our risk of developing heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, all of which are bad news for longevity.

While this makes for unsettling reading, the good news is that metabolic syndrome is a reversible condition, so it’s worth being aware of its causes and symptoms, and how to reduce your risk of developing it in the first place. Here’s everything you need to know.

What is metabolic syndrome?

Rather than being a standalone condition, metabolic syndrome is a combination of various issues.

“Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes,” explains Dr Zoe Watson GP and founder of wellbeing platform Wellgood Wellbeing. 

“These conditions include high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, increased blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels.”

To be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, you need to be displaying any three of the following risk factors: insulin resistance, high blood pressure, obesity or unhealthy levels of blood fats. 

What causes metabolic syndrome?

The primary cause of the syndrome is insulin resistance, also known as pre-diabetes.

“The root cause of metabolic syndrome appears to be insulin resistance,” says Dr Watson. “This is essentially when your body is producing enough insulin, but your body’s insulin receptors aren’t working properly – and this can happen for a number of reasons.

“The two main factors that seem to contribute to insulin resistance are excess body fat, especially around your belly, and a lack of physical activity. People who have pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes usually have some level of insulin resistance.”

Is there a correlation between metabolic syndrome and ageing?

There is a clear bilateral relationship between metabolic syndrome and the ageing process.

“As we get older, the reality is that we’re more likely to have increased blood pressure and excess weight,” acknowledges Dr Watson. These factors are known to accelerate the ageing process, with studies showing that the effect of obesity on our metabolism is similar to the effect of the natural ageing process, in that it causes changes to our DNA that make us more susceptible to age-related diseases and conditions such as certain cancers, heart disease and even accelerated brain ageing. 

Is metabolic syndrome preventable?

In a word: yes. The good news is that because we are generally in control of our risk factors – genetic predispositions aside – a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome doesn’t have to be life-limiting. In many cases, a diagnosis can work as a catalyst for change.

It’s important to remember that in order to be diagnosed with the syndrome, you’ll need to have three of the risk factors, so simply having a genetic predisposition to raised cholesterol, for example, won’t mean you’ll develop it. But as always, having an awareness of our general health and any hereditary risk factors is helpful in preventing the development of conditions.

“Metabolic syndrome is very much a reversible condition,” says Dr Watson, “and with lifestyle changes and the right support to stick to those lifestyle changes, you can massively reduce your risk of developing heart disease, stroke or type 2 diabetes.”

What are the treatment options?

As a group of conditions, there isn’t one single treatment option for metabolic syndrome. Once you’re aware that you may have some risk factors, it’s advisable to see if you can make any tweaks to how you’re living to help reverse the condition.

“The mainstay of treatment for metabolic syndrome is always lifestyle changes,” agrees Dr Watson. “Physical activity of any kind helps to boost levels of good cholesterol (HDL) as well as lowering blood pressure and levels of LDL (’bad’ cholesterol), addressing one of the major risk factors of the syndrome.

“Sometimes, lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough to bring blood pressure down, in which case your GP might advise medication as an option.”

We’re always banging on about getting active and leading a healthy lifestyle, and metabolic syndrome is a prime example of why this is so important. It’s never too late to start prioritising your health and wellbeing, and you will (almost certainly) age well as a result – win-win.

As always, if you’re concerned about your health or any symptoms, do contact your GP, and always seek medical advice before undertaking any big lifestyle changes.

Images: Getty