What is the Metabolic Syndrome?

The metabolic syndrome is characterized by a constellation of risk factors that are associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and stroke.  The risk factors associated with this syndrome act synergistically to increase one's likelihood of cardiovascular disease.  A consensus on the definition of the metabolic syndrome has been somewhat controversial; however, the criteria set by the NCEP ATP III Guidelines are most commonly used for diagnosis.  Diagnosis is made when at least three of the risk factors shown below are present:

NCEP ATP III Criteria:

Body Weight

• Men: Waist circumference of >102 cm (>40 in)
• Women: Waist Circumference of >88 cm (>35 in)

Insulin Resistance/Glucose

• ≥110 mg/dL

Dyslipidemia

• HDL
• Men: <40 mg/dL
• Women: <50 mg/dL
• Triglycerides
• ≥150 mg/dL

Elevated Blood Pressure

• ≥130 or ≥85 mm Hg

Typically, individuals with the metabolic syndrome are overweight/obese and have elevated plasma triglycerides, hypertension, and elevated plasma glucose.  At this time, it is undetermined whether the metabolic syndrome represents a distinct pathophysiologic condition or disease.  Nonetheless, the metabolic syndrome as a clinical entity is useful in clinical and health/fitness settings.

Information retrieved from ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription (9th ed).  For more information from ACSM, visit http://www.acsm.org.metabolicsyndrome.