Overview
Syndrome X, more commonly known as Metabolic Syndrome, is a cluster of interconnected health conditions—including abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol levels—that together increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. In Korea, the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome has been rising steadily, largely due to changes in diet, sedentary lifestyle, and increased obesity rates.
What is Syndrome X?
Syndrome X (Metabolic Syndrome) is not a single disease but a group of risk factors that occur together. A person is diagnosed with the syndrome if they meet three or more of the following criteria:
- Abdominal obesity (excess fat around the waist)
- High blood pressure
- Elevated fasting blood glucose
- High triglycerides
- Low HDL (good) cholesterol
This condition significantly raises the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, and is considered a public health challenge in modern societies, including Korea.
Symptoms
Metabolic Syndrome itself usually doesn’t cause obvious symptoms. However, individual components may have signs such as:
- Increased waist size
- Fatigue
- Frequent urination or thirst (linked to insulin resistance)
- Blurred vision
- Shortness of breath
- Darkened skin areas (acanthosis nigricans) in some insulin-resistant individuals
Since symptoms can be silent, regular health screenings are crucial for early detection.
Causes
Several factors contribute to the development of Metabolic Syndrome:
- Insulin resistance – body’s cells don’t respond properly to insulin
- Obesity, especially central obesity
- Unhealthy diet – high in processed foods, sugars, and trans fats
- Physical inactivity
- Hormonal changes, especially after menopause
- Genetics and family history of diabetes or hypertension
Risk Factors
- Age – risk increases with age, especially after 40
- Obesity, particularly abdominal fat
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Unhealthy Korean dietary habits – excess sodium, high-calorie convenience foods
- Smoking and alcohol consumption
- Family history of type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women
Complications
If not managed properly, Metabolic Syndrome can lead to:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Coronary artery disease
- Stroke
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
- Chronic kidney disease
- Heart attack and heart failure
- Cognitive decline and dementia in later life
Prevention
- Regular physical activity – at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity exercise
- Healthy diet – rich in vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low in sugar and trans fats
- Weight management – maintaining a healthy BMI
- Smoking cessation
- Limiting alcohol consumption
- Routine health check-ups to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels
- Stress management techniques like yoga, mindfulness, and proper sleep
Treatment Options in Korea
1. Diagnosis
Metabolic Syndrome is diagnosed when at least three of the five risk factors are present:
| Component | Korean Diagnostic Criteria |
|---|---|
| Waist circumference | ≥90 cm (men), ≥85 cm (women) (Asia criteria) |
| Triglycerides | ≥150 mg/dL |
| HDL cholesterol | <40 mg/dL (men), <50 mg/dL (women) |
| Blood pressure | ≥130/85 mmHg |
| Fasting glucose | ≥100 mg/dL |
Routine health screenings (건강검진) offered by Korean hospitals and public health centers include Metabolic Syndrome evaluation.
2. Treatment
There is no single drug for Syndrome X. Treatment targets each risk factor:
- Weight loss programs (often dietitian-guided)
- Antihypertensives – for high blood pressure
- Statins – to control high cholesterol
- Metformin – for insulin resistance or prediabetes
- Lifestyle modifications – primary and most effective intervention
- Bariatric surgery – considered for extreme obesity (in select hospitals)
3. Lifestyle Intervention Programs in Korea
- National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) offers subsidized health improvement programs and mobile apps for diet/exercise tracking
- Local public health centers (보건소) offer free counseling, nutrition education, and community fitness programs
- Major hospitals like Severance Hospital, Samsung Medical Center, and Asan Medical Center offer Metabolic Syndrome Clinics with personalized lifestyle coaching and metabolic evaluations
4. Alternative and Integrative Therapies
- Oriental medicine clinics (한의원) may offer acupuncture, herbal remedies, and moxibustion for metabolic balance (as supplementary therapy)
- Corporate wellness programs for office workers focus on reducing metabolic risk in workplace settings
