Detecting and Managing Metabolic Syndrome: Preliminary Results

Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of risk factors associated with increased cardiovascular and diabetes risk. The major characteristics of metabolic syndrome include insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia and low levels of highdensity lipoprotein [HDL] (good) cholesterol. Clinical research indicates that behavioral change can dramatically modify and even reverse the factors of metabolic syndrome and its consequences. This project studied the effect of a moderate lifestyle intervention addressing metabolic risk factors and ultimately preventing heart disease and diabetes. The study included 108 participants, 54 in the control group and 54 in the intervention group. Participants were closely followed for a year; they continued regular visits with their physicians and had no additional visits for study purposes. At every visit, the intervention group participants received a 10–20 minute intervention on how to make positive lifestyle changes. In about 12 weeks, between the initial visit and first followup, 66.7% of the intervention group and 33.4% of the control group had lost weight. The median fasting triglyceride level for the intervention group decreased from 147 to 135 mg/dL and increased from 134 to 139 mg/dL for the control group. The median blood pressure decreased from 151/88 to 139/78 mm Hg in the intervention group and increased from 141/71 to 144/76 in the control group. These early results show a greater improvement in risk factors in the intervention group than in the control group. If these trends continue, education and lifestyle interventions will eventually be made available for all participants of the study.