Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCauses and Risk FactorsDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosis

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Causes and Risk Factors

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prognosis

Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of conditions that together increase the risk oftype 2 diabetes,stroke, and cardiovascular problems, includingheart attack. The features of metabolic syndrome arehypertension (high blood pressure), high blood sugar,dyslipidemia(abnormal levels of cholesterol and fat in the blood), and excess abdominal fat.

Lifestyle changes are the first choice for treating metabolic syndrome, although in some cases medication is necessary.

Also Known AsMetSynMetSSyndrome XInsulin resistance syndromeDysmetabolic syndrome

Also Known As

MetSynMetSSyndrome XInsulin resistance syndromeDysmetabolic syndrome

Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin

metabolic syndrome

Metabolic Syndrome Symptoms

One of the main features of metabolic syndrome is that it is typically asymptomatic. That’s important for you to know because the individual components of the syndrome can worsen without you realizing it.

However, several symptoms can be associated with the condition; you may or may not experience them if you have metabolic syndrome. The most noticeable sign of metabolic syndrome is weight gain, and you could have the condition if you are overweight and/or have a large waist circumference.

Clinical symptoms associated with metabolic syndrome include:

The symptoms you can experience when you have metabolic syndrome are due to the effects of each individual component of the syndrome.Hypertension can cause dizziness, fatigue, and headaches. High blood sugar can cause sleep issues, fatigue, dizziness, thirst, dry mouth, and frequent urination.

While the fact that metabolic syndrome is usually asymptomatic can seem scary, it’s important for you to know that diagnosis is not elusive. Routine physicals can identify the syndrome.

Risk factors for metabolic syndrome include:

Although a distinct cause of metabolic syndrome has not been identified, it is strongly linked to insulin resistance, a condition in which the body isn’t able to effectively use insulin to transfer glucose (sugar) from the blood into the cells so it can be used for energy. With insulin resistance, sugar can build up in the blood, which may eventually lead to type 2 diabetes.

Excess body weight is associated with visceral (in the abdomen) adipose tissue (fat). Also referred to as belly fat, visceral fat surrounds the internal organs and is associated with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance contributes to weight gain and weight gain, in turn, contributes to insulin resistance.

In addition, research suggests that visceral abdominal fat is pro-inflammatory and may release toxins that can affect insulin sensitivity.

A number of health conditions often co-exist with metabolic syndrome, including type 2 diabetes,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,polycystic ovary syndrome, andsleep apnea. These conditions are also linked to altered insulin/glucose metabolism and chronic inflammation.

Insulin Resistance vs. Diabetes: Explaining the Differences

The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome is straightforward and based on specific criteria. Screening for the components of metabolic syndrome is part of a routine medical check-up. If you regularly keep up with your health maintenance appointments, your tests would likely show signs of the condition at an early stage.

If you have three or more of these five clinical markers, you would be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome:

Note that even if you have only one or two of these criteria, you may be at risk of metabolic syndrome and its complications. Getting treatment before you meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome can help prevent health issues from developing.

Often, metabolic syndrome is reversible. If you have the condition, it’s important that you start treatment. Metabolic syndrome worsens when it is left untreated, and the complications can cause a serious decline in your health.

Weight loss is often recommended, but not if you aren’t overweight. For most people, losing 5% to 10% of total body weight can improve insulin sensitivity and decrease the effects of metabolic syndrome.

Sometimes diet and exercise are sufficient to attain a target weight, but bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) can be an option for people with a BMI of 40 or higher, or a BMI of 35 to 39 with weight-related health conditions.

The most commonly used measure to correlate weight and height is the body mass index (BMI). It uses weight and height to try and estimate body fat. The resulting number is then used to categorize people as underweight, normal weight, overweight, “obese”, or “morbidly obese”. BMI is not perfect, however, and does not account for other factors that determine body composition like age, muscle mass, or sex assigned at birth.BMI calculations may, for example, overestimate body fat in athletes or in older people.

Diet

Modifying your diet can go a long way in reversing metabolic syndrome, especially at an early stage.

Dietary strategies include:

Diet has an impact on metabolic syndrome that is independent of weight loss.So everyone should incorporate these habits.

Exercise

Exercise can help you lose weight, and it also protects against metabolic syndrome’s effects independent of weight. Regular exercise lowers triglyceride levels, raises HDL, and may lower blood pressure for some people.

Getting regular exercise several times per week is an effective approach for managing metabolic syndrome—the key is it needs to beconsistent.

Physical activity guidelines typically call for 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity. More is better, of course, but any amount can be beneficial.

Some research suggests thathigh-intensity interval trainingcould be especially helpful for metabolic syndrome and have an effect in less time.

Consider getting a professionally directed exercise regimen to ensure that you are getting the exercise you need while avoiding exercise-induced injuries.

Lifestyle Factors

Diet and exercise have a major impact on metabolic syndrome. But other lifestyle factors also play an important role.

Lifestyle modifications that can help reduce the effects of metabolic syndrome include:

Managing metabolic syndrome requires sustained lifestyle habits. It is not based on a one-time event or temporary effort that you can stop once you reach a certain milestone.

Medication

In many cases, lifestyle changes alone can counter metabolic syndrome, but sometimes prescription medications are needed. You and a healthcare provider can determine whether your lifestyle modifications are enough or if you need to take medication to manage your metabolic syndrome.

A healthcare provider may prescribe:

Do Fiber Supplements Lower Cholesterol Levels?

Children

It is important to know that children can have features of metabolic syndrome and can develop health complications of the condition.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children should be screened for the individual components of metabolic syndrome—obesity, hypertension, high blood glucose, and fat and cholesterol levels in the blood.

Children should be treated for any of these issues even if they don’t meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome can lead to serious health consequences. Each of the factors on its own increases the risk of life-threatening disease, like heart attack and stroke. And each one of these factors is interrelated to the others.

Complications of metabolic syndrome include:

A Word From Verywell

Metabolic syndrome can have serious repercussions if left untreated, but at the same time, it’s very possible to reverse it without the need for medication or other medical therapies.

19 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Han TS, Lean ME.A clinical perspective of obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.JRSM Cardiovasc Dis. 2016;5:2048004016633371. doi:10.1177/2048004016633371National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Metabolic syndrome.Zou J, Song F, Xu H, et al.The relationship between simple snoring and metabolic syndrome: A cross-sectional study.J Diabetes Res. 2019;2019:9578391. doi:10.1155/2019/9578391Lian Y, Yuan Q, Wang G, Tang F.Association between sleep quality and metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Psychiatry Res. 2019;274:66-74. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2019.01.096American Heart Association.Symptoms and diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.Liu PJ, Lou HP, Zhu YN.Screening for metabolic syndrome using an integrated continuous index consisting of waist circumference and triglyceride: A preliminary cross-sectional study.Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2020;13:2899-2907. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S259770De la Iglesia R, Loria-Kohen V, Zulet MA, Martinez JA, Reglero G, Ramirez de Molina A.Dietary strategies implicated in the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome.Int J Mol Sci. 2016;17(11):1877. doi:10.3390/ijms17111877MedlinePlus.Metabolic syndrome.Lair B, Laurens C, Van Den Bosch B, Moro C.Novel insights and mechanisms of lipotoxicity-driven insulin resistance.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(17):E6358. doi:10.3390/ijms21176358Walchuk C, Wang Y, Suh M.The impact of EPA and DHA on ceramide lipotoxicity in metabolic syndrome. 2021;125(8):863-875. doi:10.1017/S0007114520003177Mendrick DL, Diehl AM, Topor LS, et al.Metabolic syndrome and associated diseases: From the bench to the clinic.Toxicol Sci. 2018;162(1):36–42. doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfx233de Toro-Martín J, Arsenault BJ, Després JP, Vohl MC.Precision nutrition: A review of personalized nutritional approaches for the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome.Nutrients. 2017;9(8):913. doi:10.3390/nu9080913Gutin I. In BMI We Trust: Reframing the Body Mass Index as a Measure of Health.Soc Theory Health. 2018;16(3):256-271. doi:10.1057/s41285-017-0055-0Eriksen AK, Brunius C, Mazidi M, et al.Effects of whole-grain wheat, rye, and lignan supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors in men with metabolic syndrome: A randomized crossover trial.Am J Clin Nutr. 2020;111(4):864-876. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa026Hyde PN, Sapper TN, Crabtree CD, et al.Dietary carbohydrate restriction improves metabolic syndrome independent of weight loss.JCI Insight. 2019;4(12):e128308. doi:10.1172/jci.insight.128308Paley C, Johnson M.Abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome: Exercise as medicine?BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2018;10(7). doi:10.1186/s13102-018-0097-1Cramer H, Langhorst J, Dobos G, Lauche R.Yoga for metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur J Prev Cardiolog. 2016;23(18):1982-1993. doi:10.1177/2047487316665729American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.9. Pharmacologic approaches to glycemic treatment:Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024.Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S158-S178. doi:10.2337/dc24-S009American Academy of Pediatrics.AAP provides guidance for obesity-related metabolic risks.

19 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Han TS, Lean ME.A clinical perspective of obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.JRSM Cardiovasc Dis. 2016;5:2048004016633371. doi:10.1177/2048004016633371National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Metabolic syndrome.Zou J, Song F, Xu H, et al.The relationship between simple snoring and metabolic syndrome: A cross-sectional study.J Diabetes Res. 2019;2019:9578391. doi:10.1155/2019/9578391Lian Y, Yuan Q, Wang G, Tang F.Association between sleep quality and metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Psychiatry Res. 2019;274:66-74. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2019.01.096American Heart Association.Symptoms and diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.Liu PJ, Lou HP, Zhu YN.Screening for metabolic syndrome using an integrated continuous index consisting of waist circumference and triglyceride: A preliminary cross-sectional study.Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2020;13:2899-2907. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S259770De la Iglesia R, Loria-Kohen V, Zulet MA, Martinez JA, Reglero G, Ramirez de Molina A.Dietary strategies implicated in the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome.Int J Mol Sci. 2016;17(11):1877. doi:10.3390/ijms17111877MedlinePlus.Metabolic syndrome.Lair B, Laurens C, Van Den Bosch B, Moro C.Novel insights and mechanisms of lipotoxicity-driven insulin resistance.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(17):E6358. doi:10.3390/ijms21176358Walchuk C, Wang Y, Suh M.The impact of EPA and DHA on ceramide lipotoxicity in metabolic syndrome. 2021;125(8):863-875. doi:10.1017/S0007114520003177Mendrick DL, Diehl AM, Topor LS, et al.Metabolic syndrome and associated diseases: From the bench to the clinic.Toxicol Sci. 2018;162(1):36–42. doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfx233de Toro-Martín J, Arsenault BJ, Després JP, Vohl MC.Precision nutrition: A review of personalized nutritional approaches for the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome.Nutrients. 2017;9(8):913. doi:10.3390/nu9080913Gutin I. In BMI We Trust: Reframing the Body Mass Index as a Measure of Health.Soc Theory Health. 2018;16(3):256-271. doi:10.1057/s41285-017-0055-0Eriksen AK, Brunius C, Mazidi M, et al.Effects of whole-grain wheat, rye, and lignan supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors in men with metabolic syndrome: A randomized crossover trial.Am J Clin Nutr. 2020;111(4):864-876. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa026Hyde PN, Sapper TN, Crabtree CD, et al.Dietary carbohydrate restriction improves metabolic syndrome independent of weight loss.JCI Insight. 2019;4(12):e128308. doi:10.1172/jci.insight.128308Paley C, Johnson M.Abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome: Exercise as medicine?BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2018;10(7). doi:10.1186/s13102-018-0097-1Cramer H, Langhorst J, Dobos G, Lauche R.Yoga for metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur J Prev Cardiolog. 2016;23(18):1982-1993. doi:10.1177/2047487316665729American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.9. Pharmacologic approaches to glycemic treatment:Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024.Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S158-S178. doi:10.2337/dc24-S009American Academy of Pediatrics.AAP provides guidance for obesity-related metabolic risks.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Han TS, Lean ME.A clinical perspective of obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.JRSM Cardiovasc Dis. 2016;5:2048004016633371. doi:10.1177/2048004016633371National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Metabolic syndrome.Zou J, Song F, Xu H, et al.The relationship between simple snoring and metabolic syndrome: A cross-sectional study.J Diabetes Res. 2019;2019:9578391. doi:10.1155/2019/9578391Lian Y, Yuan Q, Wang G, Tang F.Association between sleep quality and metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Psychiatry Res. 2019;274:66-74. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2019.01.096American Heart Association.Symptoms and diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.Liu PJ, Lou HP, Zhu YN.Screening for metabolic syndrome using an integrated continuous index consisting of waist circumference and triglyceride: A preliminary cross-sectional study.Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2020;13:2899-2907. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S259770De la Iglesia R, Loria-Kohen V, Zulet MA, Martinez JA, Reglero G, Ramirez de Molina A.Dietary strategies implicated in the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome.Int J Mol Sci. 2016;17(11):1877. doi:10.3390/ijms17111877MedlinePlus.Metabolic syndrome.Lair B, Laurens C, Van Den Bosch B, Moro C.Novel insights and mechanisms of lipotoxicity-driven insulin resistance.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(17):E6358. doi:10.3390/ijms21176358Walchuk C, Wang Y, Suh M.The impact of EPA and DHA on ceramide lipotoxicity in metabolic syndrome. 2021;125(8):863-875. doi:10.1017/S0007114520003177Mendrick DL, Diehl AM, Topor LS, et al.Metabolic syndrome and associated diseases: From the bench to the clinic.Toxicol Sci. 2018;162(1):36–42. doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfx233de Toro-Martín J, Arsenault BJ, Després JP, Vohl MC.Precision nutrition: A review of personalized nutritional approaches for the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome.Nutrients. 2017;9(8):913. doi:10.3390/nu9080913Gutin I. In BMI We Trust: Reframing the Body Mass Index as a Measure of Health.Soc Theory Health. 2018;16(3):256-271. doi:10.1057/s41285-017-0055-0Eriksen AK, Brunius C, Mazidi M, et al.Effects of whole-grain wheat, rye, and lignan supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors in men with metabolic syndrome: A randomized crossover trial.Am J Clin Nutr. 2020;111(4):864-876. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa026Hyde PN, Sapper TN, Crabtree CD, et al.Dietary carbohydrate restriction improves metabolic syndrome independent of weight loss.JCI Insight. 2019;4(12):e128308. doi:10.1172/jci.insight.128308Paley C, Johnson M.Abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome: Exercise as medicine?BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2018;10(7). doi:10.1186/s13102-018-0097-1Cramer H, Langhorst J, Dobos G, Lauche R.Yoga for metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur J Prev Cardiolog. 2016;23(18):1982-1993. doi:10.1177/2047487316665729American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.9. Pharmacologic approaches to glycemic treatment:Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024.Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S158-S178. doi:10.2337/dc24-S009American Academy of Pediatrics.AAP provides guidance for obesity-related metabolic risks.

Han TS, Lean ME.A clinical perspective of obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.JRSM Cardiovasc Dis. 2016;5:2048004016633371. doi:10.1177/2048004016633371

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Metabolic syndrome.

Zou J, Song F, Xu H, et al.The relationship between simple snoring and metabolic syndrome: A cross-sectional study.J Diabetes Res. 2019;2019:9578391. doi:10.1155/2019/9578391

Lian Y, Yuan Q, Wang G, Tang F.Association between sleep quality and metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Psychiatry Res. 2019;274:66-74. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2019.01.096

American Heart Association.Symptoms and diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.

Liu PJ, Lou HP, Zhu YN.Screening for metabolic syndrome using an integrated continuous index consisting of waist circumference and triglyceride: A preliminary cross-sectional study.Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2020;13:2899-2907. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S259770

De la Iglesia R, Loria-Kohen V, Zulet MA, Martinez JA, Reglero G, Ramirez de Molina A.Dietary strategies implicated in the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome.Int J Mol Sci. 2016;17(11):1877. doi:10.3390/ijms17111877

MedlinePlus.Metabolic syndrome.

Lair B, Laurens C, Van Den Bosch B, Moro C.Novel insights and mechanisms of lipotoxicity-driven insulin resistance.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(17):E6358. doi:10.3390/ijms21176358

Walchuk C, Wang Y, Suh M.The impact of EPA and DHA on ceramide lipotoxicity in metabolic syndrome. 2021;125(8):863-875. doi:10.1017/S0007114520003177

Mendrick DL, Diehl AM, Topor LS, et al.Metabolic syndrome and associated diseases: From the bench to the clinic.Toxicol Sci. 2018;162(1):36–42. doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfx233

de Toro-Martín J, Arsenault BJ, Després JP, Vohl MC.Precision nutrition: A review of personalized nutritional approaches for the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome.Nutrients. 2017;9(8):913. doi:10.3390/nu9080913

Gutin I. In BMI We Trust: Reframing the Body Mass Index as a Measure of Health.Soc Theory Health. 2018;16(3):256-271. doi:10.1057/s41285-017-0055-0

Eriksen AK, Brunius C, Mazidi M, et al.Effects of whole-grain wheat, rye, and lignan supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors in men with metabolic syndrome: A randomized crossover trial.Am J Clin Nutr. 2020;111(4):864-876. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa026

Hyde PN, Sapper TN, Crabtree CD, et al.Dietary carbohydrate restriction improves metabolic syndrome independent of weight loss.JCI Insight. 2019;4(12):e128308. doi:10.1172/jci.insight.128308

Paley C, Johnson M.Abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome: Exercise as medicine?BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2018;10(7). doi:10.1186/s13102-018-0097-1

Cramer H, Langhorst J, Dobos G, Lauche R.Yoga for metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur J Prev Cardiolog. 2016;23(18):1982-1993. doi:10.1177/2047487316665729

American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.9. Pharmacologic approaches to glycemic treatment:Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024.Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S158-S178. doi:10.2337/dc24-S009

American Academy of Pediatrics.AAP provides guidance for obesity-related metabolic risks.

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