The metabolic syndrome in the asian population.

With the rapid emergence of obesity in Asia, the metabolic syndrome is becoming a clinically important issue. The studies on migrants from Asian countries to Western countries indicate that Asian populations may be more susceptible to the Western diet and lifestyle than whites in developing the metabolic syndrome. The World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Consultation recently reported that the cut-off point for observed risk in Asian populations may be smaller than that for non-Asian populations, varying from 22 kg/m(2) to 25 kg/m(2). This variant susceptibility may be caused by gene-environmental interactions and low birth weight in Asian populations.