In brief
A group of risk factors that together raise the chance of a heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes or chronic kidney disease. It affects up to 1 in 3 adults in Australia.
- A build-up of fat around the waist is a sign of metabolic syndrome.
- A waist of 80 cm or more for women and 94 cm or more for men means increased health risk, according to healthdirect.
- Metabolic syndrome also affects children and adolescents.
How it works
A person may be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome if they have at least 3 of a high waist circumference, raised triglycerides, high blood pressure, low HDL ('good') cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance. Scientists think it happens when the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin.
An inactive lifestyle with a poor diet is thought to be a key cause, and genes can play a role. Treatment focuses on the same lifestyle changes that prevent it, which are losing weight if needed, regular exercise, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol and eating well. There are no medicines that specifically treat metabolic syndrome.
Connections
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Metabolic syndrome is linked with
Scientists think metabolic syndrome happens when the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Metabolic syndrome; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH), Insulin resistance and prediabetes
A build-up of fat around the waist is a sign of metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome can lead to
People with metabolic syndrome are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
People with metabolic syndrome are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.
Lab tests
- Blood glucose (fasting) and glucose tolerance testMeasures the glucose in your blood at the time of the test. A fasting sample or a 2-hour glucose tolerance test can help diagnose diabetes.
- Cholesterol and lipid profileMeasures the fats in your blood, including LDL ('bad') and HDL ('good') cholesterol and triglycerides, to help estimate heart disease risk.
Sources
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Summarised from healthdirect. Sources read on 13 and 16 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.