Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. These conditions include increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. People with metabolic syndrome typically have apple-shaped bodies, meaning they have larger waists and carry a lot of weight around their abdomens.

Having just one of these conditions doesn’t mean you have metabolic syndrome. But it does mean you have a greater risk of serious disease. And if you develop more of these conditions, your risk of complications, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, rises even higher. Metabolic syndrome is increasingly common. If you have metabolic syndrome or any of its components, aggressive lifestyle changes can delay or even prevent the development of serious health problems. Most of the disorders associated with metabolic syndrome don’t have obvious signs or symptoms. One visible sign is a large waist circumference. If your blood sugar is high, you might notice the signs and symptoms of diabetes — such as increased thirst and urination, fatigue, and blurred vision.

Metabolic syndrome is typically caused by eating more carbohydrates than the body can handle, especially high-glycaemic carbs that are quickly digested, such as white flour and pure sugar.

Symptoms of metabolic syndrome include the following:

• Increased waist circumference or belly fat
• Elevated blood pressure
• High blood sugar
• High triglycerides
• Low HDL (good cholesterol)