What is metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of interconnected risk factors that occur together. These risk factors include:

• Excess body fat around the waist
  
• Increased blood pressure
  
• Insulin resistance or glucose intolerance
• Abnormal blood cholesterol or triglyceride levels
  

Having any of these risk factors puts a person at risk of developing heart disease. A combination of three or more further increases this risk and the chance of developing diabetes mellitus. There are various definitions of metabolic syndrome, but generally anyone possessing three or more of the above may have metabolic syndrome.