Prior research has suggested that obese men who don't have
metabolic syndrome are not at higher risk for cardiovascular
disease. But a new study published in the journal Circulation
suggests that cardiovascular health is compromised in overweight
and obese men, even if they don't have metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of three or more of the
following risk factors for cardiovascular disease: Researchers
followed nearly 1,800 men for 30 years, beginning at age 50.
They tracked how many men died or were hospitalized for heart
attack, stroke, or heart failure. They also looked at their
weight. Men of various weight groups were compared with normal-
weight men who didn't have metabolic syndrome. Within each
weight group, men with metabolic syndrome had a higher risk for
major heart problems than men without metabolic syndrome. Risk
also increased with higher weight. Among obese men, risk was 95
percent higher in those without metabolic syndrome and 155
percent higher in those with metabolic syndr