This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Obesity often opens the door to Metabolic Syndrome

More often than not, obese patients will be diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome, which significantly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

By Dr. Ayotunde Adeyeri

 Our obesity crisis has introduced a disease that we are hearing about more often ─ Metabolic Syndrome. Simply stated, this condition occurs when three or more of these obesity-related conditions are diagnosed:

  • Large waist
  • High blood pressure
  • Excess blood sugar
  • High fat triglycerides (bad cholesterol) or low counts of good HDL cholesterol

Metabolic syndrome significantly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. More often than not, the patients I see who are pursing a bariatric weight loss solution have been diagnosed with this condition. Frightening? Definitely.

Find out what's happening in Holmdel-Hazletwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Treatable? Absolutely.

How to Fight Back

Find out what's happening in Holmdel-Hazletwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Unlike many diseases, metabolic disease is treatable without medication. In most cases, it can be brought under control by making lifestyle changes that can benefit your overall health and lead to feeling and looking better in as little as a few weeks. How? 

Follow four simple strategies that only take minutes of your day ─

  • Stop smoking.
  • Check your BMI here: Get thy BMI under the magic number of 25.

(This is easy to say, but not so easy for many of us to do. If your BMI exceeds 35 and you’ve tried other weight loss plans unsuccessfully or living with obesity-related health issues (diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or sleep apnea) you may wish to consider a surgical weight loss solution. Feel free to consult with me about your situation.

  • Walk like you are very mad (fast and furious is best).
  • Eat! 
    • Build key fruits (nectarines, plums and peaches) and multi-colored vegetables into your meals every single day.
    • Limit your intake of sugar, salt and saturated fats.
    • Include lean meats, fish and low-fat dairy into your diet every day

Committing for the long haul

By following these guidelines, will you be rid of Metabolic Disease by the weekend? Sorry, but no. But will you start looking and feeling better after following this plan for just a few weeks?  Talk with your family doctor before starting any new fitness or nutrition program. Once you have a green light to begin, try it out and let me know how it’s going.

Only you can decide when it’s time to get your health on the right track. What about today?

About Dr. Ayotunde Adeyeri

Dr. Adeyeri is a board certified, fellowship-trained advanced laparoscopic, bariatric and general surgeon. Dr. Adeyeri is on staff at Raritan Bay Medical Center, CentraState Medical Center and Bayshore Community Hospital. To schedule a bariatric or surgical consultation at  Sterling Surgicare, with offices in Holmdel, Old Bridge or Freehold, call (732) 217 – 3897.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?