Metabolic disorders are a group of conditions that affect the body’s ability to convert food into energy and use it effectively. These disorders can be caused by genetic factors, by problems with specific enzymes or hormones, or by environmental factors such as a lack of nutrients in the diet. Metabolic disorders can lead to a variety of health problems, including diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and liver disease.
There are many different types of metabolic disorders. Some common examples include:
• Diabetes mellitus: This is a condition in which the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar levels. It can be caused by genetic factors, by problems with insulin production or action, or by lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise habits. People with diabetes mellitus need to take special care to control their blood sugar levels through diet, exercise, and medication. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, and nerve damage.
• Obesity: This is a condition in which people have too much body fat. It is often caused by overeating and/or lack of physical activity. Obesity can lead to health problems such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer. People who are obese may need to lose weight through diet and exercise in order to reduce their risk for these diseases.
• Lipid disorders: These conditions involve abnormal levels of fats (lipids) in the blood. Lipid disorders can be caused by genetic factors or by lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise habits. High cholesterol levels can increase the risk for heart disease; high triglyceride levels can increase the risk for pancreatitis; and low HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels can increase the risk for atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). People with lipid disorders need to work with their healthcare providers on making lifestyle changes and/or taking medications to improve their lipid profiles.