Currently, over 47 million adults in the United States are known to have metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is comprised of a cluster of conditions including obesity, elevated cholesterol, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. People with metabolic syndrome have an increased risk for the development of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Recent studies have shown that a build-up of fat in the muscle of overweight and obese people may partially explain the link between metabolic syndrome and the development of chronic diseases. There is evidence to suggest that diets with a higher amount of protein can improve some aspects of metabolic syndrome, including the build-up of fat in muscle. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of eating a larger amount of dairy-based protein on risk factors for metabolic syndrome.
