It's been called the most common and serious condition you've never heard of. Metabolic syndrome, which afflicts an estimated 1 in 3 U.S. adults, occurs when the body's metabolism is disrupted, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Why is it on the rise? What triggers it? And how can you boost your natural metabolism to prevent the condition? In this week's episode, we talk to an endocrinologist about why some people can eat so heartily without gaining weight, how much of metabolism is genetic and which groups are most at risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

Expert: Dr. Laila Tabatabai, Endocrinologist

Interviewer: Todd Ackerman

Notable topics covered:

Is a fast metabolism always preferable to a slow one?
The surprising ages when metabolism slows — and doesn't slow
The counter-intuitive effect of starvation diets on metabolism
Should doctors more routinely test patients for metabolic rate?
Whether pills that claim to boost metabolism work
The ties between fertility and metabolic health
The cluster of risk factors that indicate metabolic syndrome
Insights from metabolic health research that can help people shed weight
Best exercise for speeding up metabolism — aerobic or strength training?
The best diets to prevent metabolic syndrome
Why middle-aged women have a harder losing weight than men
00:00 Introduction
04:27 What is metabolism?
11:48 Intermittent fasting
17:59 Fast or slow metabolism?
32:12 Metabolism changes with aging
38:40 Metabolic syndrome
48:56 How metabolic health impacts lifespan
52:25 Wrap up