This collection of Nature Publishing Group articles highlights the various medical conditions that make up what is commonly referred to as Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome affects nearly 50 million Americans — almost one in four American adults. Approximately seven percent of adults in their 20s and about 40 percent of adults over 40 meet the criteria for the syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that occur together and increase the risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Having just one of these conditions — increased blood pressure, elevated insulin levels, excess body fat around the waist or abnormal cholesterol levels — contributes to the risk of serious disease and in combination, the risk is even greater.

There is no accepted or official definition of metabolic syndrome. Whether these risk factors actually can be referred to as a syndrome or not, they represent a growing medical condition involving multiple medical specialties.

This free collection provides valuable insight into this emerging medical and public health epidemic.