Understanding and Improving Your Metabolic Health
Metabolic health is one of the most powerful predictors of long-term wellness — yet it’s often overlooked until symptoms become serious or chronic.
But what is metabolic dysfunction, and how can it quietly impact your body before you even notice? More importantly, what can you do to assess and improve your metabolic health today?
What Is Metabolic Syndrome?
Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of conditions that raise your risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.
According to the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, you may be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome if you meet three or more of the following criteria:
Waist circumference: ≥ 40 inches (men) or ≥ 35 inches (women)
Triglycerides: ≥ 150 mg/dL
HDL cholesterol: < 40 mg/dL (men) or < 50 mg/dL (women)
Blood pressure: ≥ 130/85 mmHg
Fasting blood glucose: ≥ 100 mg/dL
Why Metabolic Health Matters
Metabolic syndrome is more than a weight issue — it’s a major driver of chronic disease.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 87 studies involving 951,083 patients found that MetS is associated with a significant increase in the following:
135% higher risk of cardiovascular disease
140% increased risk of cardiovascular mortality
58% higher all-cause mortality
99% increased risk of heart attack
127% increased stroke risk
It also significantly raises the risk of various cancers:
Endometrial cancer: 7× higher risk
Esophageal cancer: 5× higher
Gastric, liver, kidney cancers: 2× higher
And it’s connected to neurodegenerative conditions:
Parkinson’s Disease: up to 66% increased risk
Alzheimer’s Disease: 10% higher (likely underestimated)
Vascular dementia: 37% increased risk
Why BMI Isn’t Enough
Body weight and BMI are often used to gauge health, but they don’t tell the whole story.
According to NIH data (2021):
62% of obese adults (BMI >30) have metabolic syndrome
But 22% of non-obese adults also meet the criteria
That means nearly 1 in 3 people with metabolic syndrome aren’t obese. In clinical practice, I focus less on BMI and more on metrics that actually reflect insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and body composition.
How I Assess Metabolic Health
To get a full picture of your metabolic status, I go beyond routine blood work.
Traditional Biomarkers:
Fasting insulin + HOMA-IR (insulin resistance)
Fasting glucose
Hemoglobin A1c
Triglycerides
HDL cholesterol
Uric acid
Homocysteine
Liver enzymes
Fasting lactate
Functional Testing:
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)
Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)
Imaging:
DEXA scan to assess visceral fat and lean muscle mass
Can you Reverse Metabolic Dysfunction?
Yes. The good news is that metabolic dysfunction is often preventable and reversible, especially when identified early.
That’s why early screening and targeted, root-cause interventions matter.
Stay tuned for my next post on how to improve your metabolic health naturally — through lifestyle, nutrition, and evidence-informed strategies.
Ready to Take the First Step?
You deserve more than symptom management — you deserve clarity and confidence in your health.
As a naturopathic doctor, I’ve seen how metabolic health quietly shapes nearly every system in the body — long before conventional labs flag a problem.
Many of my patients come in feeling “off,” tired, inflamed, or stuck with stubborn weight — but their tests are “normal.” That’s why I look deeper.
Metabolic health isn’t just about numbers — it’s about energy, clarity, resilience, and how well your body can adapt.
Ready to take the first step? Schedule a a Metabolic Health Assessment with Dr. Hawar today!
