The metabolic syndrome is a complex association of several risk factors 
including insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and essential hypertension. Insulin 
resistance has been associated with sympathetic activation and endothelial 
dysfunction, which are the main mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of 
hypertension and its related cardiovascular risk. According to the Sixth Report 
of the Joint National Committee, and guidelines of the World Health 
Organization/International Society of Hypertension, the presence of multiple 
risk markers suggests that both hypertension and risk factors should be 
aggressively managed in order to obtain a better outcome. Primary prevention of 
obesity at different levels--individual, familial, and social-- starting early 
in childhood has proven to be cost effective, and will be mandatory to reduce 
the world epidemic of obesity and its severe consequences.