Obesity, Insulin Resistance, and the Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

Background— Insulin resistance is strongly associated with obesity and other components of the metabolic syndrome (MS). The relative importance of these components in the determination of endothelial function is unknown. Furthermore, there is conflicting evidence about whether ethnic differences exist in the relative importance of these components in regard to other cardiovascular outcomes. We evaluated the contributions of insulin resistance, obesity, and the other components of the MS to impaired endothelial function.