What is the metabolic syndrome?
The metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors that increases your risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.1 People with metabolic syndrome have twice the risk of having heart disease or stroke and 5 times the risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with people who do not have it.2 The metabolic syndrome is more common in women than in men, affecting 1 in every 3 women in the US.
A person is diagnosed with the metabolic syndrome if they have at least 3 of the following 5 risk factors: higher-than-normal blood sugar, blood pressure, or triglyceride levels; a large waistline; and low HDL (good) cholesterol.3 The metabolic syndrome does not usually have any immediate symptoms—the medical problems it causes develop gradually over time. Your doctor can diagnose the metabolic syndrome with a physical exam and simple blood tests.
Do I have the metabolic syndrome?
You are considered to have the metabolic syndrome if you have 3 or more components of the syndrome, outlined in the table below.
| Criteria for Metabolic Syndrome Diagnosis (Any 3 of 5)3 |
|
| Risk Factor | Criteria |
| Large waistline† | Waist larger than 35 inches in women (40 inches in men) |
| Elevated triglycerides* | 150 mg/dL or higher |
| Low HDL ("good") cholesterol | Less than 50 mg/dL in women (40 mg/dL in men) |
| Elevated blood pressure* | 130 mm Hg or higher (top number) AND/OR 85 mm Hg or higher (bottom number) |
| Elevated blood sugar | Fasting blood sugar 100 mg/dL or higher |
| †In Asian Americans, the cutoff is 31 inches or more in women (35 inches in men). Some people of non-Asian origin (white, black, Hispanic) with slightly high waist circumference (31 to 35 inches in women, 37 to 39 inches in men) also benefit from lifestyle changes to reduce abdominal obesity. *or if you are on medication for this risk factor |
|
How common is the metabolic syndrome?
One in 3 women in the US have the metabolic syndrome.4 African-American women are 57% more likely to have the metabolic syndrome than African-American men, and Mexican-American women are 26% more likely to have the metabolic syndrome than Mexican-American men.5 There is no gender difference for white men and women. The chances of developing the metabolic syndrome increase as you get older; more than half of women older than 60 years have this syndrome.4
|
US Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome 5
|
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|
Race |
Women |
Men |
|
Mexican American* |
36% |
28% |
|
African American* |
26% |
16% |
|
White |
23% |
25% |
|
Other |
20% |
21% |
|
*Statistically significant gender difference |
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