Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a group of health problems that involve your metabolism and give you a higher chance of having heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Metabolism refers to all the different chemical processes that go on in your body.

Metabolic syndrome is very common in the United States. People with metabolic syndrome have:

• A lot of fat around their waist

• High blood pressure

• High blood sugar (including diabetes)

• High levels of fats in their blood

The cause of metabolic syndrome isn't known.

You're more likely to get metabolic syndrome if you store fat around your belly (you're apple-shaped) instead of your hips (you're pear-shaped). This happens in:

• Most men

• Women after menopause

Metabolic syndrome can affect children and teens as well.

Metabolic syndrome itself causes no symptoms. But you may have symptoms of its complications, such as:

• Coronary artery disease

• High blood pressure

• Diabetes

Metabolic syndrome has many different definitions. Doctors most often diagnose you with metabolic syndrome if you have a large waist—40 inches (102 centimeters) or more in men and 35 inches (89 centimeters) or more in women—and 2 or more of the following:

• High fasting blood sugar level (100 or higher)

• High blood pressure (130/85 or higher OR you are taking blood pressure medicine)

• High amount of fats in your blood (triglycerides of 150 or higher)

• A low level of HDL ("good" cholesterol)

Doctors will help you lose weight by having you eat a healthier diet and exercise more. They'll also give you medicines to treat any diseases you have, such as:

• Diabetes or high blood sugar

• High blood pressure

• High fat levels in your blood

• Heart disease