What is metabolic syndrome?

A cluster of at least three of: abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, low HDL, raised blood pressure, and raised fasting glucose. It markedly increases risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

For South Asians, the waist criterion is lower — above 90 cm in men and 80 cm in women — so the diagnosis applies at sizes that look unremarkable.

It is less a disease than a risk cluster. The practical value is that it flags people who benefit most from early lifestyle and risk-factor treatment.