Metabolic syndrome occurs when being
overweight or obese -- combined with other risk factors -- increase a
person's chances of developing heart disease and diabetes.
These risk factors include abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides,
high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar and a poor ratio of good-to-bad
cholesterol.
The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute suggests how you can
help prevent metabolic syndrome:
Maintain a healthy body-mass index (BMI) of less than 25.
Keep your waistline at a healthy size. Less than 35 inches for women
and 40 inches for men is ideal.
Maintain a healthy body weight. Talk to your doctor about the best
weight for you.
Stick to a low-calorie, low-cholesterol and low-fat eating plan.
Get regular exercise. In general, 60 minutes worth, five-to-seven days
per week, is recommended for most people.
Visit your doctor regularly, and frequently test your blood pressure,
cholesterol and blood sugar.
clipped from: news.yahoo.com