Frequency of the metabolic syndrome in screened South African corporate executives.

AIM The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of the metabolic syndrome in a specific group of people. PATIENTS AND METHODS The ATP III criteria were used to identify the metabolic syndrome in a group of 1,410 corporate executives belonging to a specialist health and fitness company in South Africa. RESULTS Using three criteria as specified by the ATP III panel, 31% of this group of corporate executives fulfilled the criteria for the diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome. In a small subset of black executives, a similar finding was obtained. Another one-third of the executives had two criteria of the metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION The metabolic syndrome was common in a group of corporate executives.