Doctor Galina Morozova has warned that metabolic syndrome can shorten a person's lifespan by up to 20 years during a Russian television broadcast.
Speaking on the health programme O Samom Glavnom on the Rossiya 1 television channel, the endocrinologist stated that the condition deprives patients of between 10 and 20 years of life. The full episode was made available for viewers on the Smotrim digital streaming platform.
Morozova explained that metabolic syndrome is a complex cluster of metabolic disorders that develop when body tissue sensitivity to insulin declines. She said that this breakdown in normal metabolic response creates severe long-term complications for the body.
The physician warned that the syndrome can lead to the development of dangerous chronic conditions, highlighting diabetes mellitus and cancer. She added that the disorder can also trigger heart attacks, strokes, liver cirrhosis, acute pancreatitis, and cause erectile dysfunction in patients.
Risks of metabolic disorders
In clinical medicine, metabolic syndrome refers to a group of co-occurring conditions that include high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, excess fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels. When body tissues become resistant to insulin, glucose struggles to enter cells, forcing the pancreas to produce higher levels of the hormone. Over extended periods, this imbalance causes damage to blood vessels and vital organs.
Rossiya 1 is a major state-owned television network in Russia, and O Samom Glavnom is its regular medical advice programme designed to educate the public on preventative health. The network distributes its broadcasts online through Smotrim, an on-demand video platform operated by the Russian state broadcaster.
Food availability and obesity
The warning follows earlier remarks from Russian medical doctor and television host Alexander Myasnikov, who pointed to the factors behind the widespread obesity epidemic. According to Myasnikov, the easy availability of food is an unobvious cause fueling the rise in obesity.
Myasnikov is a prominent Russian medical commentator who frequently discusses public health, diet, and nutrition on national television. Obesity is widely recognized in medical literature as a primary contributor to metabolic syndrome, as excess weight impairs the body's ability to utilize insulin effectively.
