Metabolic syndrome in kids likely to persist

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Children with a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors that define the so-called metabolic syndrome are very likely to have the syndrome in mid-adulthood, or even overt heart disease or diabetes, according to a new study.

The metabolic syndrome is a grouping of risk factors that indicate a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease or diabetes. The risk factors include high triglyceride levels, high glucose levels, high blood pressure, low levels of "good" HDL cholesterol, and being overweight.

The current findings stem from a 30-year follow-up of 814 students who were between 5 and 19 years old when they enrolled in a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute study between 1973 and 1976.

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