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The link between abdominal obesity and the metabolic syndrome

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Abstract

The clustering of cardiovascular risk factors associated with abdominal obesity is well established. Although currently lacking a universal definition, the metabolic syndrome describes a constellation of metabolic abnormalities, including abdominal obesity, and was originally introduced to characterize a population at high cardiovascular risk. Adipose tissue is a dynamic endocrine organ that secretes several inflammatory and immune mediators known as adipokines. Dysregulation of adipokine secretion, free fatty acid toxicity, and the site-specific differences in abdominal (visceral) versus subcutaneous fat support abdominal obesity as a causal factor mediating the insulin resistance, increased risk of diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in the metabolic syndrome.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology, and Metabolic Medicine, University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Level 2, Building 35, Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, 4102, Queensland, Australia

    Johannes B. Prins

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  1. Liza K. Phillips
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  2. Johannes B. Prins
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Correspondence to Johannes B. Prins.

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Phillips, L.K., Prins, J.B. The link between abdominal obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Current Science Inc 10, 156–164 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-008-0029-7

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