According to a new study almost 35 percent of all U.S. adults and 50 percent of the elderly suffer from the metabolic syndrome: a combination of conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
Researchers have gathered the data between the years 2003 and 2012 and analyzed the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, and found that it has increased from 32.9 percent to 34.7 percent. They also found that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher in women than men. It was also commonly found among Hispanics than non-Hispanic whites and blacks.
Researchers have found that prevalence of metabolic syndrome also increased with age, ranging from 18.3 percent in 20 to 39 years old, to 46.7 percent to those over the age of 60. Over the 60 age group it is found that 20 percent of women and Hispanics had metabolic syndrome.
Dr. Robert Wong, an assistant clinical professor at University of California, San Francisco and senior author of the study said, “That’s concerning, because we know the population of the U.S. is aging. I think it will potentially place a huge burden on our health care system.”Researchers said that the awareness program about metabolic syndrome and the health consequences may help in the treatment of the major risk factors like blood pressure and diabetes.
“Furthermore, recent NHANES data demonstrate that obesity prevalence in the United States also appears to have stabilized, which also may contribute to the stabilizing prevalence of the metabolic syndrome.”
Source: Metabolic syndrome’s prevalence is increasing in United States