Metabolic Syndrome Health Center

Metabolic syndrome is not pre-diabetes, insulin resistance or glucose intolerance. It's not even a disease. Rather, it's a cluster of risk factors associated with obesity. Identifying the syndrome is important because, like that tip of the iceberg, it represents a very serious, yet hidden, danger to your health. The good news is that metabolic syndrome can be prevented, managed or even reversed.

To be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) says you need to have three of the following five markers:

• A waist measurement of more than 34 inches around (more than 40 inches in men).
• A fasting blood glucose level of 110 mg/dL or higher; or you're already taking medication because you have high blood glucose levels.
• A triglyceride level at or above 150 mg/dL. Triglycerides are a form of fat in your blood.
• An HDL cholesterol level (the "good" cholesterol) below 50 mg/dL (at or below 40 mg/dL in men); or you're already taking medication to increase your HDL level.
• A blood pressure at or above 130 mm Hg systolic (the top number) or 85 mm Hg diastolic (the bottom number); or you're already taking medication to treat high blood pressure.

Learn more in the Metabolic Syndrome Health Topic A-Z.

Topic Spotlight

Learn more about metabolic syndrome in our new Women's Health Update: Metabolic Syndrome & Your Health. You won't find an easier explanation of this complex weight-related health issue than what's presented in this free publication. Order or download a copy today.