The study was led by HHMI investigator Gerald I. Shulman and Kitt Falk Petersen, both of the Yale University School of Medicine. Coauthors of the paper were from Yale and Harvard Medical School.

The metabolic syndrome is a very common metabolic abnormality and the prevalence is growing. However, the underlying factors that cause it are poorly understood. The syndrome afflicts more than 50 million Americans and roughly half of all Americans are predisposed to it, making it one of the nation's most serious human health issues.

I commonly hear that my patients were previously slim, and had no weight problem most of their life.  Then slowly and steadily they began putting on a few pounds a year until now they weigh the heaviest ever of their life and can't lose it.

Clearly this is not something that happens overnight!

It takes years to develop. For women it is more dramatic when it is also coupled with the loss of hormones, which just serves to exacerbate an already ongoing process.

For men, there is no dramatic change, but just a continuous slow steady weight gain as they get older.  This is also exacerbated by the slow decline in testosterone.

Although the researchers of the study did not directly address the cause, there are voluminous articles referencing the sedentary lifestyle of modern humans coupled with the high carb modern diet to be at the core of this problem.  When we are young it is not as apparant as our metabolic rate is still high. But as we age, lose hormones, and our metabolic rate slows this lifestyle /diet combination becomes more noticeable.  It is also more difficult to reverse, but not impossible.  It just takes dedication and hard work.

The good news is that most of the time it is reversible or at least controllable.

The simplest and most direct way to counter this is by EXERCISE!

And, DIET !

Being a process that did not develop overnight, it is a metabolic process that has developed over many years of lifestyle and diet mistakes.

Humans were not genetically designed to be sedentary nor to eat high carbohydrate diets. Both of these conditions contributes to a decrease in growth hormone(which declines naturally with age).

Good quality protein foods and strengthening exercises help sustain growth hormone levels.  Carbohydrates, starchy foods and sedentary living causes it to decline.

Growth hormone, along with the sex hormones, has a significant impact on body composition. As growth hormone (GH) declines, we become flabbier,less lean, less muscle mass and higher fat .

Two of the best ways to support GH are low carb diets coupled with CORE and Strengthening exercises.  

(I have outlined the "roadmap" for this approach in my new booklet THE REDDI PLAN. (see below for ordering info)

GH can also be replaced by taking a GH"skin shot" every night.(It is expensive) or by using the GH Releasing Hormone Sermorelin. 

I believe the most difficult part of this for most people is the exercise. Most people don't know how to exercise.  They walk, or go to the gym, but see no results.  I believe it is because they are wasting their time by not exercising correctly to achieve the results they need. 

I have been fortunate, having been a competitive athlete since the age of 11.  I have many years of experience working with coaches and trainers.  Most people have not had competitive athletic experiences.

  How do we know how to exercise? 

We improvise and figure it out, which usually does not work. I believe most people need to attend exercise classes or work with an experienced personal trainer to get the proper amount of exercise (DAILY) to boost their metabolism, in addition to avoiding carbs, starch, dairy, and alcohol.

I have previously cited scientific research articles in this newsletter that demonstrate increased morbidity from all causes associated with Dairy consumption and sedentary lifestyle(Specifically Sitting).

Clearly the best type of exercise is CORE training. 

Sit ups, crunches, leg lifts, knee to chest, scissor kicks, side leg lifts etc. are what's needed, and lots of them - every day for 30-40 minutes.

Check out '8 Minute Abs' on You Tube for more ideas.

Don't ever give up.  It will only get worse.

If you need more information or specific help, Please,