Metabolic Syndrome
More than 1 in 5 American adults are affected by metabolic syndrome, or Syndrome X, a cluster of health problems that includes high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, high blood sugar, and obesity.1 All components of the syndrome are positively affected by weight loss.
Clinical Identification of the Metabolic Syndrome
The metabolic syndrome is identified by the presence of three or more of the components listed in the table below.*
| Defining Level | ||
| Risk Factors | Men | Women |
| Abdominal obesity† (waist circumference)‡ | ≥102 cm (≥40 in) |
≥88 cm (≥35 in) |
| Triglycerides | ≥150 mg/dL | |
| High-density lipoprotein cholesterol | <40 mg/dL | <50 mg/dL |
| Blood pressure | ≥130/85 mm Hg | |
| Fasting glucose | ≥100 mg/dL | |
* Adapted from NCEP ATP III Guidelines.
† Overweight and obesity are associated with insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. However, the presence of abdominal obesity is more highly correlated with metabolic risk factors than is an elevated body mass index (BMI). Therefore, the simple measure of waist circumference can better identify the risks for the metabolic syndrome.
‡ Some male patients can develop multiple metabolic risk factors when the waist circumference is only marginally increased, eg, 94 cm to 102 cm (37"-40"). Such patients may have strong genetic contribution to insulin resistance and they should benefit from changes in life habits, similarly to men with categorical increases in waist circumference.
1. Ford ES, et al. JAMA. 2002;287:356-359.
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