The challenge of metabolic syndrome in black South African women

The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of a number of cardiometabolic diseases; however the existence of the syndrome is debatable. Some studies have shown that the risk of cardiovascular disease is increased by the... [ view full abstract ]

The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of a number of cardiometabolic diseases; however the existence of the syndrome is debatable. Some studies have shown that the risk of cardiovascular disease is increased by the metabolic syndrome, independent of its components, while other studies argue that pre-existing metabolic diseases influence the progression of circulatory system abnormalities. In the South African context, women from the black African ethnic group are known to have a higher prevalence of obesity compared with other population groups. Further, the presence of metabolic syndrome seems to be increasing in this group, particularly in those living in the urban setting. In addition, psycho–social factors seem to be associated with body composition in African women, suggesting that body–size perception may influence the high level of obesity and metabolic syndrome. In a low resource African setting such as South Africa, widespread poverty is common and occurs alongside socioeconomic inequality and an increasing risk of chronic diseases. Physical activity might be one of the solutions for addressing the high prevalence of obesity in African women. Educating African populations around the cultural preference for larger body size as an influence on obesity might be another. The purpose of this workshop is to highlight the factors associated with obesity in African women and consider some solutions to the growing presence of metabolic syndrome.