Syndrome W Publications & Presentations

1999: Internal Medicine News

Recognizing Syndrome W

Dr. Mogul offered a few simple questions that can help to identify patients who have syndrome W:

First ask about midlife weight gain. Self-reported weight increases of more than 20 pounds since the patient was in her 20s are suggestive, especially if the gains are concentrated around the abdomen and hips and the patient is an active exerciser.
Ask about waist size. An increase in waist measurement of 2 inches or more, or a pants/skirt waist size increase of 2 sizes since the patient's 20s, is also indicative. Dr. Mogul noted that a 1-inch gain in waist size is roughly equivalent to a 10-pound total weight gain.
Pay close attention to the patient's appetite and eating patterns. if she tends to go all day without eating, and then binges once she does stop to eat, she likely has syndrome W.
Other key indicators include mildly elevated office blood pressure measurements (140/90 mm Hg or greater) in an otherwise healthy and active patient with no history of CVD, diabetes, or hyperinsulinemia in the context of euglycemia or mildly impaired glucose tolerance.