Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adults 20 years of age and over, by sex, age, race and ethnicity, and body mass index: United States, 2003-2006.

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of individual risk factors for metabolic syndrome as well as the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2006.

The analytic sample consisted of 3,423 adults, 20 years of age and over, from NHANES 2003-2006. The National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATP III) guidelines were used to identify adults who met their criteria for metabolic syndrome. Prevalence estimates were calculated for each risk factor for metabolic syndrome in addition to the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Prevalence estimates and odds ratios were analyzed by sex and by age group, race and ethnicity, and body mass index (BMI) stratified by sex.