Characteristic Features of Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Japanese Students

To study how central obesity affects glucose tolerance the waist circumference was measured in 4 5 of the subjects including 1 with type 2 diabetes and 6 with IGT or IFG(combined prevalence of glucose intolerance 1 5.6%).　The waist circumference was excessive in 8 0% of the male subjects and in 2 0% of th e female subjects.　Of the 2 7 centrally obese subjects 1 6 had car‑ diovascular risk factors(dyslipidemia high blood pressure and/or glucose intolerance); 7 had two or more and thus were considered to have metabolic syndrome(1 5.6% of 45).　In the cen‑ trally obese subjects insulin sensitivity was significantly reduced while impaired glucose toler‑ ance was only seen in the centrally obese subjects.　In central obesity insulin resistance thus may be the initial step toward βcell dysfunction and hyperglycemia.　Obese young adults with central obesity need an early initiation of ongoing monitoring to detect type 2 diabetes and car‑ diovascular risk factor.