Metabolic syndrome

About 30% of Australians have metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors that increase the risk of serious health conditions. Identifying and treating metabolic syndrome is one of the best things you can do to protect your health.

What is metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed if you have at least 3 of the following 5 risk factors:

  • Central obesity – a large waist circumference
  • High cholesterol
  • High triglycerides
  • High blood pressure
  • Type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance (e.g. a fasting blood glucose of more than 5.6 mmol/L)

If you’ve developed metabolic syndrome, you’re at increased risk of:

The most important thing that people need to know about metabolic syndrome is that they have it and that is treatable.”

Dr Nathan Connelly

What causes metabolic syndrome?

The short answer is your lifestyle and your genetics. You can’t change your family history but you do have the power to change your habits.

“Patients tend to think that metabolic syndrome is either purely due to lifestyle factors such as poor diet or lack of exercise or that it is due to genetics. It is usually due to a combination of both.”

Dr Nathan Connelly

Genetically, you’re at greater risk of metabolic syndrome if you have a family history of:

  • Type 2 diabetes or other insulin resistance syndromes
  • Vascular disease
  • Obesity.

The major lifestyle contributions to metabolic syndrome are:

  • Overeating leading to weight gain
  • A sedentary lifestyle.
  • Use of certain drugs including corticosteroids.

In simple terms, diet is the major factor leading to metabolic dysfunction.

What are the early warning signs of metabolic syndrome?

Often the earliest warning sign is your waist circumference. It can indicate that fat deposits are building up around your internal organs, including your liver.

Your health is considered to be at risk if your waist measures over 94 cm (in men) or 80 cm (in women).

Another measure is your body mass index or BMI. If it’s above 27, you’re at greater risk of metabolic syndrome.

We may also suspect metabolic syndrome if you have  certain other conditions including:

Is metabolic syndrome serious?

Yes, it is. Any condition that damages your heart, brain or liver is definitely serious!

Metabolic syndrome is the most common cause of fatty liver disease. If not treated, fatty liver can lead to scarring (fibrosis) and, when the scarring becomes severe, it may become cirrhosis. Many people assume cirrhosis is always due to alcohol abuse but that’s not the case – it’s often due to metabolic syndrome and a high-fat diet.

Metabolic syndrome is also a risk factor for liver cancer, pancreatic cancer and bowel cancer.

How do you treat metabolic syndrome?

Primarily by losing weight, improving your diet and having an active lifestyle. Medical treatment may also be considered.

Losing weight improves your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol. It reduces your risk of diabetes or heart problems. It can ease fatty liver, reducing the risk of cirrhosis.

In terms of your diet, you may need to:

  • Eat less – losing weight requires a calorie deficit meaning you need to expend more energy than you consume.
  • Eat better – a healthy diet ensures you fill up on nutritious foods that sustain you.
  • Speak to a nutritionist or dietician who can help adjust your diet. This service will be available from early 2025 at Moonee Valley Specialist Centre.

When you eat highly processed, sugary foods, your insulin levels spike and more fat gets deposited in your liver. Instead, eat more plant-based foods and meat-based proteins.

Regular exercise (at least 30 minutes, 4 times per week) can reduce metabolic syndrome. It can:

  • Improve insulin sensitivity
  • Aid weight loss efforts
  • Improve body composition.

Simple changes can also help. If you’ve got a sedentary job, try to get up and move about for a few minutes each hour.

Some medications  can aid weight loss or improve insulin sensitivity but they can be expensive and can cause significant side effects. If you’ve struggled to lose weight with diet and exercise, talk to your doctor about whether a medical approach to weight loss might help you.

Which healthcare professionals help manage metabolic syndrome?

To manage metabolic syndrome, you may see a:

  • GP – this doctor plays a key role in managing your condition and coordinating your care
  • Endocrinologist – a doctor who specialises in hormone-related conditions (insulin is a hormone)
  • Cardiologist – a heart doctor
  • Hepatologist – a liver doctor
  • Dietitian or nutritionist
  • Exercise physiologist or personal trainer.

How do you know if treatment is working?

We can assess if your efforts are succeeding by:

  • Measuring your waist circumference – is it smaller than it was?
  • Measuring your BMI – is it getting lower?
  • Checking your body composition on metabolic scales – do you now have less fat and more muscle mass?
  • Checking your blood pressure – is it improving?
  • Doing blood tests to check your liver function, blood glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides – have the results improved?
  • Checking your liver health – a non-invasive liver scan can show us whether fatty liver is improving.

These follow-up tests are usually performed every 3-6 months, depending on the severity of your metabolic syndrome.

How can we help?

At Moonee Valley Specialist Centre, we see the devastating effects of untreated metabolic syndrome. We don’t want that to be you. We’d much rather be involved sooner in the process when we can help you make changes to protect your liver.

We offer a non-invasive liver scan to assess your liver health, including signs of metabolic-related fatty liver. We also utilise metabolic scales to understand your body composition to help guide treatment.

You don’t need a referral for either of these services. You can simply book your own appointment to gain insights into your liver.

1003 Mt Alexander Road Essendon, VIC, 3040

Call us now

Call us now

03 9372 0372

Email Us at

Email Us at

reception@mvscentre.com.au