What are the signs and symptoms? Usually, there are none. Carrying too much weight around the abdomen, often described as having an “apple shape,” can be a sign.
Some people may have physical signs of insulin resistance—including dark patches of skin or skin tags. But this doesn’t always occur, and it is seen more in people of certain ethnicities.
Overall, medical problems related to metabolic syndrome develop over time. That’s why it’s important to know and understand your cardiovascular health numbers and what they mean.
What Increases Your Risk?
Most people with metabolic syndrome are overweight and tend not lead very active lives. It is also more common as we age and among:
- Women around menopause
- People who eat too many unhealthy simple carbohydrates—such as white bread, rice and pasta, white crackers as well as sweets (cookies, candy, cakes)
- Smokers
- Those with a family history of diabetes or metabolic syndrome
Certain ethnic groups (Mexican Americans in the U.S.) are more likely to have metabolic syndrome. It’s also fairly common for people with metabolic syndrome to have other conditions, including diabetes and insulin resistance, which happens when your body is unable to use insulin properly to remove glucose from your blood.