The aim of the study was to assess the impact of individual components of the metabolic syndrome on the human body, taking into account their etiology and pathogenesis. This article is analytical analysis of scientific and medical literature basing on aspects of the etiology and pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome. The key role in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome is played by insulin resistance, which may be a result of lifestyle conditions (low physical activity, overweight or obesity) or genetic background. A certain role in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome is also attributed to disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the form of increased cortisol control, which may initiate the development of abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Aforementioned factors (environmental, hormonal and genetic) lead to excessive fat tissue gathering. The excess of abdominal fat tissue - abdominal obesity - leads to insulin resistance, the concentration of which causes body mass gain. Such mechanism is dangerous for our health and may lead to the occurrence of type 2 diabetes and premature development of atherosclerosis with all its consequences such as atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases including coronary artery disease.
Keywords: insulin resistance; obesity; metabolic syndrome.