Our passive lifestyle, our toxic diet, and the atherogenic/diabetogenic metabolic syndrome: can we afford to be sedentary and unfit?

It is well recognized that the clustering atherogenic and diabetogenic abnormalities of the metabolic syndrome are highly prevalent in our affluent, sedentary populations. Indeed, we have designed for ourselves devices as well as working and living environments that spare us from various physical activities. Unfortunately, this sedentary environment cannot protect us against the energy-dense, refined diet that has been adopted by an increasing proportion of our population, leading to the development of a positive energy balance, weight gain, and obesity.