Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that doubles the risk of heart disease and raises the risk of type 2 diabetes about five-fold. About one in three US adults meets the definition.
How to use the Metabolic Syndrome Calculator
- Sex
- Waist cut-offs
- Waist circumference
- Triglycerides
- HDL cholesterol
- Systolic blood pressure
- Diastolic blood pressure
- Fasting glucose
- Treated for high triglycerides
- Treated for low HDL
- Treated for high blood pressure
- Treated for high blood sugar
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Enter your measurements and say whether you take treatment for each condition. Each criterion met counts one point.
Tips
- Use results from the same fasting state the formula expects (most lipid formulas assume fasting).
- Check the units on your lab report before entering values.
- Discuss treatment targets with your clinician – they depend on your overall risk.
- Repeat abnormal results; a single value can be misleading.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using Friedewald LDL when triglycerides are above 400 mg/dL.
- Mixing mg/dL and mmol/L values in one calculation.
- Ignoring other risk factors such as smoking and blood pressure.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Sex | Choose one: Male, Female |
| Waist cut-offs | Choose one: Europid, African, Middle Eastern, Americas, South Asian, Chinese, Japanese |
| Waist circumference | Units: cm, in, m, ft, mm |
| Triglycerides | Units: mg/dL, mmol/L |
| HDL cholesterol | Units: mg/dL, mmol/L |
| Systolic blood pressure | In mmHg |
| Diastolic blood pressure | In mmHg |
| Fasting glucose | Units: mg/dL, mmol/L |
| Treated for high triglycerides | Choose one: No, Yes |
| Treated for low HDL | Choose one: No, Yes |
| Treated for high blood pressure | Choose one: No, Yes |
| Treated for high blood sugar | Choose one: No, Yes |
Health note: this calculator is for education and screening only and is not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Discuss your results with a qualified clinician.
Formula
Metabolic syndrome = 3 or more of:
• waist ≥ 102 cm men / 88 cm women (≥ 90 / 80 cm Asian)
• triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL or treated
• HDL < 40 mg/dL men / < 50 women or treated
• BP ≥ 130/85 or treated
• fasting glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL or treated
Worked example
Inputs — Sex: Male; Waist cut-offs: Europid, African, Middle Eastern, Americas; Waist circumference: 100 cm; Triglycerides: 160 mg/dL; HDL cholesterol: 42 mg/dL; Systolic blood pressure: 128 mmHg; Diastolic blood pressure: 82 mmHg; Fasting glucose: 95 mg/dL; Treated for high triglycerides: No; Treated for low HDL: No; Treated for high blood pressure: No; Treated for high blood sugar: No.
Results — Waist criterion = Not met; Triglycerides criterion = Met; HDL criterion = Not met; Blood pressure criterion = Not met; Glucose criterion = Not met; Criteria met = 1 of 5; Metabolic syndrome = Not present.
Key terms
- Visceral obesity
- Fat around the abdominal organs.
Frequently asked questions
Is metabolic syndrome a disease?
It is a cluster of risk factors rather than a single disease, but it signals high cardiometabolic risk.
Can it be reversed?
Yes – weight loss, activity, a healthy diet and stopping smoking improve every component.
Why are waist cut-offs different for Asian people?
Risk rises at smaller waist sizes in these populations.