Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a primary and increasing public health
problem as a result of worldwide urbanization, excessive energy intake, and increasing
sedentary lifestyles. MetS is a combination of the interrelated risk factors of
cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. These factors are dysglycemia,
dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, and low
HDL levels. Clinical and epidemiological studies show that these factors are strongly
associated with cardiovascular risk factors. The worldwide incidence of MetS varies,
depending on the region, urban or rural situation, as well as the gender, age, race, and
ethnicity of the population studied. Effective preventive approaches include weight
loss, dietary habits with high content of industrialized foods, the use of appropriate
pharmacological agents, and exercise to reduce specific risk factors of MetS. Many
physicians treat each of the components of MetS separately. But instead, a solution
should be found to address all these factors together. As discussed in this chapter,
exercise plays a very crucial role in controlling insulin activity, reducing the risk of
cardiovascular disease, and maintaining weight control. Various studies have proven
that effective exercise provides positive results in treating MetS components. The aim
of this chapter is to explain the effects of physical activity on MetS in light of current
information about MetS.
Keywords: Exercise, Insulin resistance, Metabolic syndrome, Physical activity.
