Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in the 21st Century: A Narrative Review of Cardiometabolic Risk and Global Policy Response.

The global rise of cardiovascular disease stems from the combined effects of metabolic syndrome and obesity. The clinical picture of these diseases develops through complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors and lifestyle elements which generate central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, and systemic inflammation leading to a prothrombotic, proatherogenic, and pro-inflammatory state that increases the risk of acute coronary syndrome, acute myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular diseases, heart failure, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease which occur at younger ages with distinct clinical patterns and severe cardiometabolic effects. The worldwide occurrence of these conditions has risen dramatically to become a worldwide pandemic which demands immediate public health action for effective policy implementation. The existing literature about this topic requires synthesis to effectively evaluate the evidence and recommendations regarding obesity and metabolic syndrome pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, cardiovascular effects, and public health interventions and their outcomes to determine which policies succeeded and which areas need improvement since taxes on high-calorie products and front-of-package labeling have demonstrated promising outcomes.