Prescribing exercise can help prevent abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome

A systematic review of studies published in BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation found evidence that prescribing exercise can help to manage abdominal obesity.   The review also looked at the relationship between adiposopathy ‘sick fat’ caused by high calorie diets combined with sedentary lifestyles and abdominal obesity, a predominant risk factor for metabolic syndrome.  Metabolic syndrome is defined as ‘a clustering of at least 3 of 5 medical conditions that occur together and can increase an individual’s risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.’

The 5 conditions that are associated with metabolic syndrome are, abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels, low levels of HDL and high blood sugar levels (insulin resistance).