Metabolic Syndrome part 2

diagnosing adiposity/obesity

having a Body Mass Index (BMI) score that is above what is considered healthy for one's height and age; in adults a BMI over 30.

BMR

Basal Metabolic Rate: the amount of energy (calories) that the body uses while at rest.

BMI

Body Mass Index; it is an index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify underweight, overweight and obesity

adiposity/obesity

a complex medical condition characterized by slow basal metabolic rate and increased appetite leading to increase fat stores around the body; it is typically predisposed by genetics but triggered by a number of precipitating factors

leptin resistance

a condition in which the hypothalamus does not sense leptin; metabolism slows and appetite increases.

leptin

a hormone produced by adipose cells that normally stimulates the hypothalamus to regulate metabolism and appetite

normal blood pressure

blood pressure reading that is between 90 over 60 and 120 over 80 mmHg

systolic blood pressure

indicates how much pressure/force your blood is exerting against your artery walls when the heart beats

diastolic blood pressure

indicates how much pressure/force your blood is exerting against your artery walls while the heart is resting between beats

Factors that slow BMR

leptin resistance, normal aging, hormones, low muscle mass, poor sleep, starvation/severe restriction of caloric intake, certain medications, chronic stress

decreased circulating leptin

normally stimulates the hypothalamus to decrease metabolism and increase appetite

increased circulating leptin

normally stimulates the hypothalamus to increase metabolism and decrease appetite

hypertension

the medical term for chronically high blood pressure; blood pressure reading that is 130/85 mmHg or higher