Checklist for the Metabolic Syndrome
If you have three or more of the following five conditions, you probably have the metabolic syndrome.

1. Abdominal obesity as determined by waist measurement
   Greater than 40-inch waist in men
   Greater than 35-inch waist in women
2. Fasting triglyceride value of 150 mg/dL or higher
3. HDL-cholesterol value of
   Less than 40 mg/dL in men
   Less than 50 mg/dL in women*
4. Blood pressure value at or above
   130 mm Hg for the top number (systolic) OR
   85 mm Hg for the bottom number (diastolic) (either one or both count as one condition)
5. Fasting blood glucose value of 110 mg/dL or higher

If you have three or more of these conditions, talk with your physician about the metabolic syndrome. It is very common in the United States and other developed countries and affects many adults, most of whom are not aware that they have this syndrome.

Weight control for those who are overweight and increased physical activity are fundamental therapy for the metabolic syndrome.

* Women tend to have higher HDL-cholesterol levels than men, and HDL-cholesterol may be a particularly strong risk factor in women.