I have been doing yearly wellness exams for the local fire fighters for many years now.  I quite enjoy it.  Many of them are in such good physical shape that I pronounce them to be “Mary Poppins” fire fighters, meaning  “Practically Perfect in Every Way!”  Many, however, succumb as they get older to the “weight creep” that is common in the US today.  I saw one such firefighter this very week who had gained 8 pounds since I saw him last year.  In such cases, I have to educate the patient about the Medical Consequences of Excess Weight.  There is even a medical term for this phenomenon:  “Metabolic Syndrome.”  I think that just about everyone, whether a firefighter, an inmate in a prison or jail, or the medical staff that takes care of them, should understand Metabolic Syndrome. Continue reading →