Unhealthy lifestyle and the risk of metabolic syndrome - the Romanian experience

The study investigated the relationship between an unhealthy lifestyle and the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a sample of 181 Romanian patients, comprising 54 males and 127 females with an average age of 59.95 years. It found that living in a rural environment, having a lower education level, past smoking, lack of fruit and vegetables in the diet, consumption of carbonated soft drinks, and significant alcohol intake were risk factors for MetS. Although the precise etiology of MetS was unclear, it was understood to result from a complex interaction of genetic, metabolic, socio-economic, and environmental factors.