Scott Isaacs

Metabolic syndrome is a growing problem, particularly in America with widespread obesity. This book was published in 2006 and updated in 2009, but the problem has become worse, not better, since then. What is it? Metabolic syndrome is loosely defined as a bunch of symptoms that can worsen together, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, a fatty liver, and cardiovascular problems. None of these conditions by themselves are good, but together, they can cause show more someone's health to spiral out of control.

The general treatment, as this book specifies, is better diet and more exercise. Certain medications can help, but a healthier lifestyle still provides the main remedy. Personal unhealthiness is not always the prime culprit of metabolic syndrome. For instance, this condition can be a side effect of many medications, including psychiatric ones, HIV drugs, and anti-seizure pills. Since those medications cannot usually be halted without serious problems, the treatment remains the same - diet and exercise.

The good news is that it can be treated if taken seriously enough. This book provides a quick, no-nonsense guide as to how. After detailing how the condition unfolds, this book has an entire chapter on diet and another on exercise. (Note a theme?) The language is definitely biomedical, but still accessible to the general patient population. Obesity and metabolic syndrome may be more prevalent in today's world of overeating and sedentary lifestyles, but there's no reason it should dominate your life. This book shows the practical steps you can take to overcome it. show less

I read this on a whim, as I'm really interested in how the role that hormones play on the body, and especially when it comes to weight, and the effect it has on the female body at large.

I did know quite a bit about biology and hormones when I read this, so a lot of the information felt very basic and redundant. I find that the book moves at an almost agonizingly slow pace, and he repeats information over and over, which was incredibly annoying. However, perhaps to a person who hasn't been show more exposed to this information it could have been useful?

I don't know.

The information is there however, and that's really what matters in a book like this. It was easy to understand, and he really did break down the process and how things work. I would recommend it as a starting point for those who are interested in the subject. show less