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Description of Conditions
Metabolic Syndrome (MetS)
➤ MetS is a visceral adiposity-driven cluster of cardiometabolic
risk factors characterized by insulin resistance, inflammation,
and hormonal dysregulation, significantly increasing the risk of
T2DM, cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction-associated
steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and certain cancers, with waist
circumference as a key clinical indicator.
➤ Adult Diagnostic Criteria
• The National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment
Panel III (NCEP ATP III) def ines MetS by the presence of three or
more of the following f ive components:
1. Abdominal obesity: waist ≥102 cm (40 in) in men or ≥88 cm
(35 in) in women.
2. Elevated triglycerides: ≥150 mg/dL or taking medication.
3. Reduced HDL-C: <40 mg/dL in men or <50 mg/dL in women or
taking medication.
4. Elevated blood pressure: systolic ≥130 mm Hg or diastolic
≥85 mm Hg or taking medication.
5. Elevated fasting glucose: ≥100 mg/dL or taking medication
➤ Notably, organizations such as the International Diabetes
Federation specify lower waist-circumference thresholds for
South Asians (≥90 cm in men and ≥80 cm in women) and East
Asians (≥85 cm in men and ≥80 cm in women).
➤ Pediatric Diagnostic Criteria
• There is no universally accepted def inition of MetS in children
and adolescents, but several expert bodies have proposed criteria
based on adult def initions. The modif ied NCEP ATP III criteria,
endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the
International Diabetes Federation, are among the most used.
