I think this interchange between Jimmy & Kurt Harris indicate indicates he's really talking metabolic syndrome:
Jimmy: Perhaps exhibiting any of the markers of metabolic syndrome being awry is how to best judge if there is metabolic damage. Multiple markers out of whack determines the severity. And that's not to say that it's impossible to reverse this condition if it does exist.
Kurt: Then let's just use the medically accepted term metabolic syndrome in lieu of metabolic derangement or damaged metabolism, to improve communication. And of course not everyone who is obese or can't lose fat has metabolic syndrome, nor is metabolic syndrome by definition irreversible.
Metabolic syndrome is somewhat better defined (here's a definition from NIH). But for purposes of a discussion related to LC and paleo, I think it's essentially the inability for the body to adequately deal with excess calories in general and dietary carbs in particular (reflected by higher postprandrial BG and higher fasting insulin).
