Recently published results from a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal that one in five adults in the U.S. has metabolic syndrome - a combination of health problems that involves weight gain, high blood pressure and blood sugar, and unhealthy cholesterol levels. Also called obesity syndrome, it can lead to increased risk of diabetes and heart disease unless controlled through lifestyle modifications (such as exercise and eating healthy) and medical treatment.

Quantifying the size of this problem has been difficult, however, until now. To determine the prevalence of this syndrome, researchers at the CDC were able to use the first specific definition of this syndrome, which has been developed by the National Institutes of Health as part of ATP III (the third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults). And that definition is based largely on results from laboratory tests.

The ATP III definition of metabolic syndrome indicates that it is present if the patient has three or more of the following symptoms:

• Waist measuring at least 40 inches (102 cm) for men, 35 inches (88 cm) for women
• Serum triglyceride levels of at least 150 mg/dL (1.69 mmol/L)
• HDL cholesterol levels of less than 40 mg/dL (1.04 mmol/L) in men, less than 50 mg/dL (1.29 mmol/L) in women
• Blood pressure of at least 130/80 mm Hg
• Blood sugar (serum glucose) of at least 110 mg/dL (6.1 mmol/L)

The astonishing result is that at least 47 million adults in the U.S. meet these criteria. The findings highlight the need to identify and treat these individuals as well as the important role of the clinical laboratory in doing so.