In medicine, the term metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of conditions that, particularly if more than one is present, are statistically linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Although several different definitions of metabolic syndrome exist, they generally include obesity and/or central obesity (“apple shape” or belly fat as opposed to “pear shape” or fat on the hips), raised blood pressure, insulin resistance or abnormal blood glucose, and abnormal cholesterol levels. There is no scientific consensus on the causes of metabolic syndrome (and not all scientists and physicians agree that it is a distinct entity), but factors generally considered to play a role include heredity, age, ethnicity, diet, and a sedentary lifestyle. Many scholars have cited the typical conditions of modern ...