Metabolic syndrome check

Five clinical criteria. Two minutes. You'll get the most accurate result if you have a recent blood test and blood pressure reading to hand.

First, two questions that set your thresholds

Sex recorded at birthBackground

Waist thresholds differ by population — the same measurement carries different risk in different groups, which is why this question is asked before the criteria.

Tick each one that applies to you

Waist measurement of 80 cm or moreMeasured at the midpoint between the lowest rib and the top of the hip bone.
Triglycerides of 1.7 mmol/L or moreOr you are already being treated for raised triglycerides.
HDL cholesterol below 1.3 mmol/LOr you are already being treated for low HDL.
Blood pressure of 130/85 mmHg or higherEither number counts. Or you are already being treated for high blood pressure.
Fasting blood glucose of 5.6 mmol/L or moreOr you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

About this instrument

What it measures. Metabolic syndrome is not a disease in itself. It is a cluster of five measurements that tend to occur together and, in combination, raise the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and metabolic liver disease. Meeting any three of the five criteria meets the definition.

Where the thresholds come from. The values used here are the 2009 harmonised criteria — the joint statement issued by the International Diabetes Federation Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the American Heart Association, the World Heart Federation, the International Atherosclerosis Society and the International Association for the Study of Obesity. That statement resolved a long-standing disagreement between competing definitions and is the basis for the criteria in general use today.

Its limits. Waist thresholds are population-specific, and the categories offered here are broad — if your background isn't well represented by either option, treat the waist criterion as indicative only. Self-measured waist circumference is also the least reliable of the five inputs. Most importantly, this tool tells you whether a definition is met; it cannot tell you what is driving it, which is what actually determines treatment.

What it is not. This is general health information, not a diagnosis, and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified health practitioner about your individual circumstances.