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(Circulation. 2005;112:453-455.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.

Editorial

Our Passive Lifestyle, Our Toxic Diet, and the Atherogenic/Diabetogenic Metabolic Syndrome

Can We Afford to Be Sedentary and Unfit?

Jean-Pierre Després, PhD

From the Québec Heart Institute, Laval Hospital Research Center, and the Division of Kinesiology, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada.

Correspondence to Jean-Pierre Després, PhD, FAHA, Director of Research, Québec Heart Institute, Laval Hospital Research Center, Pavilion Marguerite-D’Youville, 4th Floor, 2725 chemin Ste-Foy, Ste-Foy, Québec, QC, G1V 4G5, Canada. E-mail jean-pierre.despres@crhl.ulaval.ca

Key Words: Editorials • obesity • exercise • diet • risk factors

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

	Introduction

 
It is well recognized that the clustering atherogenic and diabetogenic abnormalities of the metabolic syndrome are highly prevalent in our affluent, sedentary populations. Indeed, we have designed for ourselves devices as well as working and living environments that spare us from various physical activities. Unfortunately, this sedentary environment cannot protect us against the energy-dense, refined diet that has been adopted by an increasing proportion of our population, leading to the development of a positive energy balance, weight gain, and obesity.

See p 505

In this regard, one of the key contributions of the recommendations of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) has been to recognize the major role played by obesity, especially abdominal obesity, as the most prevalent form of the metabolic syndrome.^1,2 NCEP-ATP III guidelines have also emphasized the importance of measuring waist circumference as a simple approach to identify, in clinical practice, individuals with an excessive accumulation of abdominal fat and at risk of exhibiting features of the metabolic syndrome.^1,2 It is now well accepted that the metabolic syndrome is a prevalent and powerful risk factor not only for type 2 diabetes mellitus but also for cardiovascular disease and that it is frequently accompanied by abdominal obesity.^1,2 Abdominally obese individuals with a preferential excess of visceral (or intraabdominal) adipose tissue are characterized by the most severe metabolic abnormalities.^3,4 Thus, among patients with the features of the metabolic syndrome and at high global risk for cardiovascular disease, it is important in clinical practice to . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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