Stress and the Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

This article lists the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome that can result from stress. The metabolic syndrome is a complex phenomenal. Factor analyses have given the overall impression that 3 to 5 underlying phenotypes may be associated with metabolic syndrome. These, include abdominal obesity, elevated serum triglycerides, high blood pressure, increased fasting glucose levels and low concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Although genetic and physiological factors play a major role in the development of obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance, and diabetes, these common disorders that are part of the metabolic syndrome are probably influenced by other factors. Changes in lifestyles occurring from the pressure of modern society have resulted in, diets that are less healthy. People are becoming increasingly sedentary, resulting in increased body weight, elevated blood pressure and increased atherothrombotic risks. Stress related to depression, environment, or work-related stress, is associated with increased release of corticosteroids and other neurohormonal factors that may lead to abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, and some other problems related to the metabolic syndrome. Psychosocial factors apparently must be considered as well, but it is not entirely clear how this occurs. Therefore, there is a need for a longitudinal study to clarify the relationships between psychosocial factors, neuroendocrine activation, and the other aspects of the metabolic syndrome. This article summarizes the various reports related to stress its connection to metabolic syndrome in order to provide basic information for health promotion campaigns.

Keywords

• metabolic syndrome
• risk factors of metabolic syndrome
• stress and the metabolic syndrome