The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III guidelines suggested that a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome (previously known as syndrome X) where three or more of the following risk factors are present:
More recently the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) (3) have defined criteria for metabolic syndrome where metabolic syndrome is diagnosed if the patient has a 'large waist' plus any other two risk factors.
Risk Factor | Defining Level NCEP ATP III Any three of these: | Defining criteria IDF Large waist plus any two: |
Central (abdominal) obesity* waist circumference |
men > 102 cm (>40 in) women > 88 cm (>35 in) |
men > 94 cm (> 37 inches) women > 80 cm (> 32 inches) |
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol | men <1.0 mmol/L (<40mg/dL) women <1.3 mmol/L (<50mg/dL) | men < 1.0 mmol/L (40 mg/dL) women <1.3 mmol/L (50 mg/dL) |
triglycerides | >= 1.7 mmol/L (>= 150mg/dL) | >= 1.7 mmol/L (>=150 mg/dL) |
blood pressure | >= 130/85 mmHg | >= 130/85 mmHg |
fasting plasma glucose | >= 6.6 mmol/L (>=110mg/dL) | >= 5.6 mmol/l (>=100 mg/dL) |
Interestingly the IDF criteria suggests a smaller waist circumference (for men and women) and also a lower fasting glucose level.
* central obesity is more highly correlated with the metabolic risk factors than body mass index (BMI) and therefore measurement of waist circumference (around the navel) is recommended to identify the bodyweight component of metabolic syndrome
The metabolic syndrome:
Notes:
Reference:
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