Metabolic syndrome is a cluster diagnosis — hit three of five markers and you qualify. It's a strong predictor of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Waist: >40 inches (men) or >35 inches (women). Fasting triglycerides: ≥150 mg/dL. HDL: <40 (men) or <50 (women).
Blood pressure: ≥130/85. Fasting glucose: ≥100 mg/dL.
Waist size is the one you can measure at home today, and it drives the others. Getting under half your height often improves 3–4 of the 5 within months.
Check the marker you can measure right now.
WHtR Calculator →
BMI can label muscular athletes as overweight or obese. Here's when BMI misses the mark and what to use instead.
The clearest waist guideline for women, based on the NHS and Ashwell Waist-to-Height ratio — no charts, just one rule.
How age changes your healthy weight range, and the simple WHO/CDC formula that answers "how much should I weigh?".