Ethnic Differences Seen in Obese Syndrome
Posted on: Monday, 24 February 2003, 06:00 CST
CHICAGO (AP) -- A syndrome linked to obesity, diabetes and heart disease is most common among Mexican-American women and least common among black men, a study found.
Metabolic syndrome affects about 22 percent of U.S. adults, or at least 47 million Americans. Symptoms often include high blood pressure, poor cholesterol levels, high blood sugar and a disproportionately large waist.
Researchers analyzed data from a 1988-94 national health survey and found that prevalence ranged from 27 percent of Mexican-American women to 14 percent of black men.
The percentage of black and white women affected was 21 percent and 23 percent respectively. Among men, the rates were 21 percent for Mexican-Americans and 24 percent for whites.
The disparities are probably due to genetics, though there may be some unknown environmental factors that the study did not measure, said Columbia University's Dr. Steven Heymsfield, a co-author.
The ethnic differences remained even after factors including body-mass index, socioeconomic status and physical inactivity — all linked to the syndrome — were considered.
The findings appear in Monday's Archives of Internal Medicine. The study was led by Dr. Yong-Woo Park of Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, South Korea (news - web sites). Researchers from Stanford University also participated.
The numbers are "staggering," but the data "are now 8 to 14 years old, and the situation has likely worsened," James Hill and Dr. Daniel Bessesen of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center said in an accompanying editorial.
The syndrome was present in at least half of obese people studied, more than 20 percent of overweight people and less than 6 percent of normal-weight people. It was most common among smokers and in people age 50 and up.
Those affected are prone to developing obesity, diabetes and heart disease, but diet, exercise and quitting smoking can reduce the risk.
Metabolic syndrome is also sometimes called syndrome X and the insulin resistance syndrome.
Affected people have at least three of the following symptoms: a waist measuring more than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women; levels of triglycerides — fats in the blood — of at least 150 milligrams per deciliter; levels of high-density cholesterol — the "good cholesterol" — of less than 40 mgs in men and less than 50 mgs in women; blood pressure of at least 135 over 80; and blood sugar of at least 110 mgs per deciliter.
___
On the Net:
More science, space, and technology from RedNova
Copyright © 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
Related Articles
- Women, Men Differ in Online Behavior
- Health Net Introduces Oregon's First Health Plan to Address High Cholesterol Among Medicare Beneficiaries
- Women Want Universal Health Insurance
- Research Shows Non-Surgical Treatment Relieves Uterine Fibroid Symptoms in 92 Percent of Post-Menopausal Women
- Heart Disease in Women, Men is Notably Different
- Venus, Mars and the Internet: Women, Men Have Different Goals Online
- Women, Men Have Different Goals Online
- Diabetics' Blood Sugar Control and Cholesterol Levels Dramatically Improved By NAMCP Diabetes Patient Report Card(R) and a Web-Based Education Program
- Dietary fat intake linked to dry eye syndrome in women
- No Revelation Here: Women's, Men's Brains Different
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds