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  • Home
  • About
  • Our Services
    • Primary Care Pediatrics
      • Well Child Visit
      • Sick Visits
      • Adolescent Medicine
    • Holistic Pediatrics
      • Functional Medicine
      • Autoimmune Disease
      • Cognitive Health
      • Gluten Sensitivity / Celiac Disease
      • Anxiety
      • Allergies
      • Asthma
      • Constipation
      • ADHD
      • Eczema
      • Metabolic Syndrome
  • Parent Resources
    • Useful Links
      • Mommy Meds
      • Kelly Mom
      • CDC Vaccination Schedule
      • CDC Vaccination Ingredients
      • Illinois Poison Control
      • Car Seat Safety
      • Donor Milk
    • Medication Doses
      • Benadryl Dosage Amounts
      • Motrin Dosage Amounts
      • Tylenol Dosage Amounts
  • Our Resources
    • Blog
    • FAQs
    • Video Library
    • Fullscript
    • Earthley
    • Oilly CBD
  • Contact Us

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a collective term for a group of risk factors that can raise your chance of developing heart disease and other health problems like diabetes.

In general, excess weight and lack of activity can lead to metabolic syndrome, but there are five specific factors that can put you at risk for it.

  • Having a large waistline compared to hip circumference
  • Low levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol
  • High triglyceride levels
  • High levels of blood sugar
  • High blood pressure

The good news is that with dietary changes and exercise you can reverse metabolic syndrome. Since the risk for metabolic syndrome increases with age, it is critical to modify your child or teenager’s lifestyle habits as early as possible. Here are top aspects you should know about metabolic syndrome:

Review Your Family History

Your genetic makeup is part of the risk factors, so if one of your close relatives has had diabetes or heart disease, your child or teen could be at elevated risk for metabolic syndrome.

Your Body Shape Matters

Where you “wear” your fat matters: If your child looks more like an apple than a pear, the risk of developing metabolic syndrome is greater. Carrying weight around the middle is an indication of excess visceral fat, a key risk factor for the development of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even certain cancers.

Be Mindful What You Drink

Fruit juices, sports drinks and sugary soda beverages can spike your child’s blood sugar levels. Water is the best beverage for healthy hydration. And it’s good to know that unsweet tea, coffee, skim or low-fat milk, and fruits and vegetables provide water without extra calories, too.

The Importance Of Weight Loss

Many people don’t realize that even a modest 5% reduction of their body weight positively impacts blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol/triglycerides. For example, if your child or teenager weighs 160 lbs but the ideal weight is 120 lbs, even a drop of 8-10 lbs could improve your teen’s lab markers. It could even decrease or eliminate the need for prescription medication.

The Importance Of Exercise

Even moderate aerobic exercise can improve cholesterol levels, so exercising regularly, preferably at least 60 minutes/day, five days/week can help ward off metabolic syndrome. Moreover, strength training and intense aerobic exercise may improve your child’s blood glucose sensitivity and reduce elevated insulin levels.

Ditch The Sedentary Lifestyle

Sitting is the new smoking: Sedentary activities such as watching TV, working all day on the computer, sitting at school, at home or sitting while commuting are associated with increased risk for metabolic syndrome.

Testing Your Fasting Insulin Levels

Blood glucose and A1C levels are most commonly tested – but testing your child’s fasting insulin level can predict the risk of developing prediabetes and metabolic syndrome as insulin plays a key role in metabolism.

Take The First Step Today On Your Child's
Journey Back To Health

Perhaps you have questions you’d like to ask before you make a decision to become a patient. Our patient coordinator is standing by, happy to answer any questions you have to determine if Well-Rooted Pediatrics is right for you.
Call 815-322-9300

OUR LOCATION

390 Congress Parkway Suite J, Crystal Lake, IL

HOURS OF OPERATION

Monday9am to 5pm
Tuesday9am to 5pm
Wednesday9am to 5pm
Thursday9am to 5pm
Friday9am to 5pm
Saturday1st, 2nd & 3rd Saturday Of The Month

Contact Details

390 Congress Parkway Suite J

Crystal Lake, IL

Phone 815-322-9300

Fax 815-322-9315

Email [email protected]

Office Hours

Monday: 9am to 6pm

Tuesday: 9am to 5pm

Wednesday: 9am to 6pm

Thursday: 9am to 5pm

Friday: 9am to 5pm

Saturday: Varies and by appt only

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