The Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome among Normal Weight Nigerians

Abstract

Aims and Objectives. In the past, most notions about the metabolic syndrome emphasized the 
importance of obesity. This study determined the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS), 
among normal weight BMI Nigerians. 
Materials and Methods. Three hundred and sixty-nine subjects, (369, men 207, women 162), aged 
above 30 years were randomly recruited for the study. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using 
the National Cholesterol Education Programme/ Adult Treatment Panel 111, (NCEP/ATP111), criteria. 
Results.  Thirty six subjects (9 males, 27 females) had three abnormal factors.  Four abnormal 
factors occurred in 3 female subjects giving a total of 39 subjects that satisfied the criteria for the 
diagnosis of the MS. These gave the prevalence of MS as 10.6%, 4.3% and 18.5% among all, male 
and female subjects respectively. MS was distributed evenly in the normal BMI range among the 
women while among the men more cases were found in the upper range of normal BMI. Elevated 
waist circumference, (WC), had similar prevalence as MS among the subjects. 
Conclusions. Occurrence of MS among normal weight BMI persons is thought to be due to 
production and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by adipose tissues and underscore the need 
to screen non-obese individuals for the MS to prevent type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.