What causes insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome?
Factors that have been shown to cause or contribute to metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance include:
- Poor diet
- Being overweight
- Lack of exercise/physical activity
- Sleep apnea
- Hormonal changes such as pregnancy, peri-menopause, menopause and andropause (male menopause)
- Some medicine including steroids and antidepressants
- Some medical conditions such as Cushing’s and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies