metabolic syndrome: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Medical/technical, academic
Quick answer
What does “metabolic syndrome” mean?
A cluster of interconnected medical conditions that together increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A cluster of interconnected medical conditions that together increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.
A diagnosis based on the presence of at least three out of five criteria: central obesity, high blood pressure, elevated fasting glucose, high triglycerides, and low HDL cholesterol.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Term is identical in spelling and usage. Differences exist in diagnostic thresholds (e.g., waist circumference measurements).
Connotations
Identical medical seriousness.
Frequency
Equally common in medical literature in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “metabolic syndrome” in a Sentence
[Patient] has/develops metabolic syndrome.[Lifestyle] increases the risk of metabolic syndrome.[Doctor] diagnosed [patient] with metabolic syndrome.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “metabolic syndrome” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The patient's metabolic syndrome profile was concerning.
- A metabolic syndrome diagnosis requires specific criteria.
American English
- Metabolic syndrome risk factors are common.
- The metabolic syndrome criteria were all met.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; may appear in corporate wellness programme literature.
Academic
Common in medical, public health, and biomedical research papers.
Everyday
Uncommon; used mainly when discussing personal health with a professional.
Technical
Standard diagnostic term in endocrinology, cardiology, and general medicine.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “metabolic syndrome”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “metabolic syndrome”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “metabolic syndrome”
- Using 'metabolic syndrome' as a countable noun (e.g., 'He has a metabolic syndrome'). It is generally uncountable.
- Confusing it with a specific disease like diabetes; it is a cluster of conditions.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not a single disease. It is a cluster or group of risk factors that occur together, increasing the chance of developing serious diseases.
Yes, through significant lifestyle changes like weight loss, increased physical activity, and a healthier diet, the risk factors can often be improved or reversed.
Insulin resistance, often linked to excess weight and physical inactivity, is considered a central underlying cause.
A doctor diagnoses it when a patient has at least three out of five specific conditions: large waist circumference, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high fasting blood sugar.
A cluster of interconnected medical conditions that together increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.
Metabolic syndrome is usually medical/technical, academic in register.
Metabolic syndrome: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmet.əˌbɒl.ɪk ˈsɪn.drəʊm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmet̬.əˌbɑː.lɪk ˈsɪn.droʊm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Metabolic Syndrome is a MESS: Metabolism, Excess weight, Sugar issues, Strain on the heart.
Conceptual Metaphor
A ticking time bomb for health; a perfect storm of risk factors.
Practice
Quiz
What is metabolic syndrome primarily a risk factor for?