Metabolic syndrome
The name doctors give to a cluster of health problems that occur together and jointly raise the likelihood of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It is common, and often symptomless.
The basics
- You may not have any symptoms. It is usually picked up through a blood test or a check-up, not through feeling unwell. [1]
- It raises the chances of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and may also increase the chances of fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, gout and some cancers. [1]
- It is linked to insulin resistance: the body not responding properly to the hormone insulin. [1]
- The NHS advice is lifestyle change first: losing weight if overweight, eating less saturated fat, sitting less, and at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense exercise a week. [1]
The weight connection
The NHS records that people living with obesity are more likely to get metabolic syndrome, and that it may be linked to fat carried around the tummy. What causes it is not known. [1]
What our blood test can see
Four of the ten markers we measure sit in this cluster's territory: fasting glucose and HbA1c on the blood-sugar side, triglycerides and HDL on the blood-fat side. Waist size and blood pressure are not blood measures, and a blood test alone does not diagnose metabolic syndrome: assessment belongs with your GP.
HeMed provides clinician-led weight management. We do not diagnose or treat metabolic syndrome. This page is general health information, not medical advice. If you are worried about symptoms, speak to your GP, or use NHS 111.
Sources
- NHS, "Metabolic syndrome", page last reviewed 16 November 2023. nhs.uk/conditions/metabolic-syndrome. Accessed 3 September 2026.