Obesity and metabolic syndrome: the contribution of visceral fat and adiponectin

*Sumitomo Hospital & Osaka University, 5-3-20 Nakanoshima, Kita-Ku, Osaka 530,0005, Japan; Tel.: + 81 6 6443 1261; Fax: +81 6 6444 3975; [email protected] summary Multiple risk factor syndrome in which hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and hypertension cluster simultaneously has been noted as a highly atherosclerotic status with the name of metabolic syndrome, but there has not been consensus about the definition and diagnostic criteria for this syndrome. In this review, I showed that visceral fat accumulation has a crucial role in the development of multiple risk factors and discussed its mechanism, focusing on adipocytokines, especially adiponectin. The concept of metabolic syndrome as multiple risk factor syndrome based on visceral fat accumulation should be emphasized because lifestyle modification for the reduction of visceral fat may be very effective for the reduction of risks and also cardiovascular disease.