A truly deadly quartet: obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperinsulinemia.

The National Cholesterol Education Program recognizes the importance of the metabolic syndrome and has published guidelines for its diagnosis. Weight loss, physical activity, and treatment of the individual risk factors constitute the main strategies for treatment. For now, the goals and methods of treating hypertension and dyslipidemia are the same in people with the metabolic syndrome as in the general population. Thiazolidinedione drugs increase insulin sensitivity, but their use in the metabolic syndrome is only speculative at present. We recommend they be used only as indicated to treat diabetes mellitus.