What is metabolic syndrome? Metabolic syndrome (also called
metabolic syndrome X, syndrome X, and insulin resistance
syndrome) is a combination of medical conditions that places one
at increased risk for cardiovascular diseases and type 2
diabetes. The clustering of risk factors that comprise metabolic
syndrome has become increasingly more prevalent in the United
States. In fact, an estimated 34% of U.S. adults over the age of
20 years have metabolic syndrome (1). Individuals with metabolic
syndrome are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease
and five times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared
to individuals without metabolic syndrome (2). In addition to a
heightened risk for these diseases, metabolic syndrome has
recently been shown to impair health-related quality of life
(3). Although the prevalence of metabolic syndrome increases
with age, the syndrome is becoming increasingly more common in
children and adolescents. However, applying adult diagnostic
criteria (See below) to children