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Table 2 International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition for pediatric metabolic syndrome (MetS) [134]

From: Metabolic syndrome: definitions and controversies

Age group (years)

Obesity (WC)

Triglycerides

HDL-C

Blood pressure

Glucose

6 to < 10a

≥ 90th percentile

    

10 to < 16

≥ 90th percentile or adult cut-off if lower

≥ 1.7 mmol/l (≥ 150 mg/dl)

< 1.03 mmol/l (< 40 mg/dl)

Systolic BP ≥ 130 or diastolic BP ≥ 85 mm Hg

FPG ≥ 5.6 mmol/l (100 mg/dl)b or known T2DM

16+ (adult criteria)

WC ≥ 94 cm for Europid males and ≥ 80 cm for Europid females, with ethnic-specific values for other groupsc

≥ 1.7 mmol/l (≥ 150 mg/dl) or specific treatment for high triglycerides

< 1.03 mmol/l (< 40 mg/dl) in males and < 1.29 mmol/l (< 50mg/dl) in females, or specific treatment for low HDL

Systolic BP ≥ 130 or diastolic BP ≥ 85 mm Hg or treatment of previously diagnosed hypertension

FPG ≥ 5.6 mmol/l (100 mg/dl)b or known T2DM

  1. Diagnosing metabolic syndrome requires the presence of central obesity plus any two of the other four factors.
  2. aMetabolic syndrome cannot be diagnosed, but further measurements should be made if there is a family history of metabolic syndrome, T2DM, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and/or obesity.
  3. bFor clinical purposes, but not for diagnosing MetS, if FPG: 5.6-6.9 mmol/l (100-125 mg/dl) and not known to have diabetes, an oral glucose tolerance test should be performed.
  4. cFor those of South and South-East Asian, Japanese, and ethnic South and Central American origin, the cut-offs should be ≥ 90 cm for men, and ≥ 80 cm for women. The IDF Consensus group recognizes that there are ethnic, gender and age differences, but research is still needed on outcomes to establish risk.
  5. BP = blood pressure; FPG = fasting plasma glucose; HDL-C = high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; IDF = International Diabetes Federation; T2DM = type 2 diabetes mellitus; WC = waist circumference.