Guidelines for Metabolic Syndrome were last issued in 2005 by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). It was established by the panel that metabolic syndrome has no single cause. The most important risk factors, however, were abdominal obesity and insulin resistance (Medscape.org, 2005).

The scientific synopsis, which was published in a 2005 issue of Circulation, states that the syndrome is associated with increased long-term risks for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and type-2 diabetes. Lifestyle changes “deserve prime consideration” for risk reduction. The interventions that the guidelines list are weight control, increased physical activity, and a diet designed to the reduce risk.

The lifestyle intervention goals in the guidelines for metabolic syndrome are as follows:

• Abdominal obesity should reduce body weight by 7% – 10% during the first year and continued weight loss thereafter.

• Waist circumference should be less than 40 in. for