Cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) is a combination of metabolic dysfunctions mainly characterized by insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and central adiposity. CMS is now recognized as a disease entity by the World Health Organization. Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
In the recent past this was considered a problem only in high income countries, but now overweight and obesity is becoming a warning also in low- and middle-income countries. Obesity prevalence among children and adolescents is growing fast and is often correlated with higher cardiovascular risk in younger group ages.