America is in the midst of a obesity epidemic. Millions of Americans have overweight and having trouble losing weight. You may be one of them.

Medical researchers have begun to classify a number of symptoms as part of a larger syndrome known as metabolic syndrome. It is suspected that 75 millions Americans may have metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic Syndrome is made up of a group of health conditions. Together, they increase you risk of diabetes, stroke, and heart attack. 1 in 5 Americans are likely affected by metabolic syndrome. Some believe the number is even higher than this. Metabolic Syndrome may be the biggest health problem affecting North Americans today.

There are drugs that are now being used to treat metabolic syndrome. They include, Avandia and Metformin. Previously, these drugs were used only to treat type 2 diabetes, but studies have shown they are also effective in treating metabolic syndrome. They have allowed people to lose weight and live healthier.

The specific conditions that make up metabolic syndrome are:

1. excess abdominal weight - generally, a waist size of 40 inches or more for men, 35 inches or more for women.
   
   
2. Triglyceride levels in the blood over 150 mg/dl.
   
   
3. Elevated blood pressure (130/85 or higher).
   
   
4. Fasting blood sugar above 100 mg/dl.
   
   
5. Blood levels of HDL below 40 mg/dl (men), 50 (women).
   

See your doctor if you think you might have metabolic syndrome.