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Metabolic Syndrome
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Blood Heart Circulation

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of at least three specific risk factors that significantly increase your chances of developing heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Overview

Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors that occur together. Having at least three of the following qualifies as metabolic syndrome:

  • Large waistline: Abdominal obesity or "apple shape."
  • High triglyceride level: A type of fat found in the blood.
  • Low HDL cholesterol: The "good" cholesterol that helps remove fat from arteries.
  • High blood pressure: Can damage the heart over time.
  • High fasting blood sugar: May be an early sign of diabetes.

Causes & Risk Factors

Causes include overweight/obesity, an inactive lifestyle, insulin resistance, age, and genetics. People with this syndrome often experience excessive blood clotting and inflammation.

Groups at increased risk include:

  • Mexican Americans (highest rate), followed by White and Black people.
  • People with diabetes or a family history of diabetes.
  • Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  • People taking medications that cause weight gain or changes in blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on a physical exam and blood tests. You must have at least three of the following:

  • Waistline: 35+ inches for women or 40+ inches for men.
  • Triglycerides: 150 mg/dL or higher.
  • HDL cholesterol: Less than 50 mg/dL (women) or 40 mg/dL (men).
  • Blood pressure: 130/85 mmHg or higher.
  • Fasting blood sugar: 100 mg/dL or higher.

Treatment & Prevention

The primary treatment and prevention strategy is a heart-healthy lifestyle:

  • Heart-healthy eating: Limit saturated and trans fats; eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats.
  • Weight management: Aim for a healthy weight.
  • Physical activity: Get regular exercise.
  • Stress management.
  • Smoking cessation.

If lifestyle changes are insufficient, your provider may prescribe medications to lower cholesterol or blood pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Stand upright, breathe out normally, and use a flexible tape measure around the narrowest part of your torso—usually just above the belly button. The tape should be snug but not compressing the skin, and you read the measurement at the end of a normal exhalation.
Lifestyle changes are first‑line, but if triglycerides stay ≥150 mg/dL after 3–6 months of diet, weight loss, and exercise, many doctors start a low‑dose statin or a fibrate to lower cardiovascular risk, even when blood pressure is normal.
Obstructive sleep apnea worsens insulin resistance, raises blood pressure, and promotes weight gain, all of which amplify metabolic‑syndrome risk. If you snore loudly, feel daytime fatigue, or have a BMI ≥ 30, ask your clinician for a sleep study; treating apnea with CPAP often improves the metabolic profile.
Losing as little as 5–10 % of body weight can improve waist size, lower blood pressure, raise HDL, and reduce fasting glucose. For many people, a 10 % loss is enough to bring at least three of the five criteria back into the normal range, effectively “reversing” the syndrome.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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