What is the metabolic syndrome?
The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic risk factors, including abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance, which increase one's risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. It was first defined by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2005 and is based on the criteria set forth by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) in 2001 and the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism in 2004. The criteria for diagnosing the metabolic syndrome are abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL), hypertension, and elevated fasting glucose.  