Introduction
Metabolic syndrome is a collection of some cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors including diabetes, obesity, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension [1]. It was long thought to be a condition only seen in adults [2,3]. In fact, metabolic syndrome is one of the most important public health problems around the world affecting approximately 25% of world population. The risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and type II diabetes dramatically increases in those adults who have metabolic syndrome [1].
More recently, the focus of research broadened to also include metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents. Early detection and management of metabolic syndrome is vital as evidence suggest that risk factors for CVD can frequently persist after childhood and adolescence into adulthood. Metabolic syndrome is not as common in children as it is in adults; nevertheless, because of the link between obesity and metabolic syndrome and with obesity being on the rise worldwide, it is estimated that metabolic syndrome in children will become more common in future [1–4].
This study aims to report on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in children of school age in Thailand. We previously published a report on prevalence of dyslipidaemia in Thai school children [5]. The current study uses the same sample but further analyzes the findings with a primary focus on metabolic syndrome.