The Association Between Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Epidemiological Evidence

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that elevate the risk of cardiometabolic diseases, with obesity often cited as a central trigger. This systematic review analyzes epidemiological evidence linking general and abdominal obesity with metabolic syndrome. A total of 38 eligible studies published between 2010 and 2023 were reviewed from PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. Most studies reported a strong association between obesity and metabolic syndrome components such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance. Abdominal obesity demonstrated a stronger association (OR=3.8) compared to BMI-based obesity (OR=2.6). These results support the inclusion of waist circumference measurement in metabolic syndrome screening and policy development focused on obesity reduction.