Prevalence and Trends of a Metabolic Syndrome Phenotype Among U.S. Adolescents, 1999–2000

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of a metabolic syndrome phenotype among U.S. adolescents using the most recent national data and to examine trends in metabolic syndrome prevalence. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Analysis of data on 991 adolescents (aged 12-19 years) who had fasted for at least 6 h, from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-2000). The metabolic syndrome was determined using the National Cholesterol Education Program (Adult Treatment Panel III) definition modified for age. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of a metabolic syndrome phenotype among U.S. adolescents increased from 4.2% in NHANES III (1988-1992) to 6.4% in NHANES 1999-2000 (P or = 95th percentile for age and sex), compared with 7.1% of adolescents at risk for overweight (BMI between 85th and 95th percentiles) (P 2 million U.S. adolescents currently have a metabolic syndrome phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of a metabolic syndrome phenotype has increased significantly over the past decade among U.S. adolescents and is particularly prevalent (> 30%) in overweight adolescents. These findings have important implications for public health because of the well-known health risks associated with the metabolic syndrome in adults.