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Conditions

Metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors, including a large waist, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and unhealthy blood fats, that together raise heart and diabetes risk.

Clinician review pending Updated Conditions
DefinitionMetabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors, including a large waist, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and unhealthy blood fats, that together raise heart and diabetes risk.

What it means

The NHLBI says you may have metabolic syndrome if you have three or more of these:

  • Large waist: more than 40 inches for men or 35 inches for women
  • Blood pressure of 130/85 mm Hg or higher
  • High fasting blood sugar, or treatment for it
  • HDL cholesterol below 40 mg/dL for men or 50 mg/dL for women
  • Triglycerides above 150 mg/dL

Waist cutoffs may differ by race and ethnicity. Taking medicine for blood pressure or blood fats can also count toward a criterion.

The NHLBI estimates about 1 in 3 US adults have metabolic syndrome. It raises the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, and insulin resistance is thought to be a central driver.

Weight loss, regular activity, better sleep and not smoking can improve several features at once.

Why it matters

Each part of metabolic syndrome tends to improve with weight loss, so it is a useful way to track health gains.

Related terms

Insulin resistanceWaist circumferenceTriglyceridesHDL cholesterol

Sources

  1. NHLBI: Metabolic syndrome
  2. NHLBI: Metabolic syndrome diagnosis

Clinician review pending. Drafted from primary sources and waiting for sign-off by a licensed clinician (MD, DO or PharmD) before launch. Every number is checked against its source. Drug facts are re-checked quarterly, prices monthly and whenever a label changes. How we review · Report an error