Metabolic Syndrome

The connection between obesity and chronic disease is already well established and is most notable in the part it plays in the metabolic syndrome. 

The metabolic syndrome exists if:
subjects have central obesity (waist circumference (WC)=> 94cms for men => 80cms for women),

plus any two of:
triglyceride level  => 1.7mmol/L; HDL cholesterol level of <0.9mmol/L in men or <1.1 mmol/L in women; blood pressure at least 130mm Hg systolic or 85mm Hg diastolic;  fasting glucose level =>5.6mmols/L.

The existence of the metabolic syndrome, which includes obesity, will determine the likely outcome of various types of morbidity along the continuum. The continuum also identifies that there are opportunities for intervention at both primary and secondary levels but the target group at each point along the continuum is likely to vary in characteristics.