Study Shows Young People Developing Metabolic Syndrome at Higher Rates Menu Verywell Fit Nutrition Weight Management Nutrition Facts Nutrition Basics Diets Meal Plans Meal Delivery Services View All News Fitness and Nutrition What to Buy How We Test Products Fitness Gear Nutrition Products Tools Recipe Nutrition Calculator Weight Loss Calorie Goal BMI Calculator Body Fat Percentage Calculator Calories Burned by Activity Daily Calories Burned Pace Calculator About Us Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Search NEWS Fitness and Nutrition News Study Shows Young People Developing Metabolic Syndrome at Higher Rates By Elizabeth Millard Elizabeth Millard Elizabeth Millard is a freelance journalist specializing in health, wellness, fitness, and nutrition. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 07, 2020 Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Sean Blackburn Fact checked by Sean Blackburn Sean is a fact-checker and researcher with experience in sociology and field research. Learn about our editorial process Print Researchers report more young people at risk for metabolic problems. Getty Images Key Takeaways A group of heart disease risk factors called metabolic syndrome is occurring more often in people under the age of 40, researchers report.The longer you have metabolic syndrome, the more likely you are to develop a number of health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, and more.Healthy lifestyle choices can play a large role in helping prevent and manage metabolic syndrome. About 20% of people under age 40 now have metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors that can increase the likelihood of developing several serious conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, researchers report. Published as a research letter in the Journal of the American Medical Association , the researchers conclude that the rate of metabolic syndrome is rising in all age groups, and as many as half of adults over 60 have the condition. The rate is surging upward in younger people the fastest, however. Researchers noted there's been a 5% increase over the past five years among those age 20 to 39, which represents a serious public health problem. Metabolic syndrome includes five factors, and is diagnosed if three or more of these are present:A large waistlineElevated blood sugar levelsHigh blood pressureHigh triglyceride levelsLow levels of HDL cholesterol Although the effects of metabolic syndrome can take years to develop, researchers emphasized that the longer you have the condition, the more likely you'd be to develop conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Another concern is that for the most part, metabolic syndrome has no symptoms, so you may not know you're in a high-risk group unless you get these health markers checked. Risk Factors The growing prevalence of metabolic syndrome among younger adults has raised red flags for the last couple of years, especially as it relates to stroke risk. A study in JAMA Neurology in 2017 noted hospitalization rates for acute ischemic stroke in those aged 35 to 44 has increased by 41% for men and 30% for women since 1995. That's happening at the same time stroke mortality rates have decreased substantially in the past 20 years among older adults, mainly due to increased awareness of risk factors and more diligence about getting checkups. Suzanne Steinbaum, MD One issue here is that many younger people are potentially seeing themselves as ‘safe’ from something like stroke, because they think that only happens much later in life. That might keep them from making important lifestyle changes that can help, and most importantly, getting their blood pressure and cholesterol checked. — Suzanne Steinbaum, MD Although family history can play a role in metabolic syndrome risk, there are also lifestyle issues that can be prominent, such as: Being overly sedentaryStressSmokingObesityPoor dietInsulin resistance A Growing Problem In terms of prevalence, only 12% of Americans have all the factors necessary for optimal metabolic health, according to a recent study published in Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders. Those researchers looked at data from nearly 9,000 people and focused on the five factors for good metabolic function. They found that less than 1 percent of adults with obesity were considered metabolically healthy, but even those considered normal weight could show signs of poor metabolic function. “The low proportion of the population achieving optimal metabolic health was surprising, even when considering low-risk groups such as those who are normal weight,” says study co-author Joana Araujo, PhD, in the UNC Department of Nutrition. “It means that meeting only one healthy behavior is not enough if you want to maximize your health potential." Injury Prevention Prevention Strategies Araujo adds that optimal metabolic health is different from simply being free of serious conditions—it often requires effort to accomplish. Their study and others focused on metabolic function, found there are certain lifestyle behaviors that might help serve as a guide to everyone wanting to get their metabolic health on track: Consistent physical activity done throughout the day Not smoking Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables Practicing mindfulness and gratitude Maintaining a healthy weight Often, focusing on just one or two of these can lead to checking more off the list, suggests Sharon McDowell-Larsen, PhD, exercise physiologist and coach at the Center for Creative Leadership. For example, taking time to move more could motivate you to quit smoking and eat healthier. Doing a brief meditation practice to help lower blood pressure might assist in goal setting when it comes to your weight. The focus with any kind of healthy lifestyle change is to be gentle with yourself," she says. "See these changes as opportunities, be intentional about them, and that makes it easier." Beat Metabolic Syndrome With These Types of Exercise What This Means For You Making lifestyle changes that can shift you away from developing metabolic syndrome can feel overwhelming for some, especially if you already have some health issues and risk factors. That's why a solid first step is to know your numbers and get an idea of what's really going on with your health, advises Steinbaum. She says many young people tend to skip getting annual checkups, particularly if they feel they don't have any health issues to discuss. But like any condition, catching issues early is key when it comes to treatment, and possibly even reversing the direction of what's happening. "Know your numbers," suggests Steinbaum. "Know where you're at in terms of all that easy-to-obtain information like blood pressure and cholesterol, among other health markers. Then, you can develop a plan about next steps. But it starts with your numbers." Learn More Metabolic Syndrome (American Heart Association) Increasing Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome Among U.S. Adults (American Diabetes Association) 4 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Hirode G, Wong RJ. Trends in the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in the United States, 2011-2016. JAMA. 2020;323(24):2526–2528. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.4501 George MG, Tong X, Bowman BA. Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and strokes in younger adults. JAMA Neurol. 2017;74(6):695–703. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.0020 NIH. Metabolic syndrome. Joana Araújo, Jianwen Cai, June Stevens. Prevalence of optimal metabolic health in American adults: National health and nutrition examination survey 2009–2016. Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders, 2018; doi:10.1089/met.2018.0105 By Elizabeth Millard Elizabeth Millard is a freelance journalist specializing in health, wellness, fitness, and nutrition. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Related Articles Excessive Sugar Intake May Contribute to Aggressive Behavior and ADHD Standing More Often May Lower Chronic Disease Risk Beat Metabolic Syndrome With These Types of Exercise Vermouth Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits What Are the Five Components of Fitness? What Is Yo-Yo Dieting? How to Stop the Cycle 10 Diet and Lifestyle Changes to Boost Heart Health What is the Average Weight for Women? Why You Should (or Shouldn't) Try a Water Fast Can Exercise Actually Improve Your Sex Life? 5 Reasons Resistance Training Belongs in Your Workout Routine How Do Low-Carb Diets Affect Your Cholesterol and Triglycerides? Eating Foods High in Vitamin D Could Help Lower Colon Cancer Risk, Study Says How to Lose Weight the Right Way in Your 50s and 60s Health Benefits of Cycling: 6 Reasons Cycling Is Good For You Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Help Prevent Metabolic Syndrome When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept All