ABSTRACT
Metabolic syndrome develops because of an accumulation of intra-abdominal fat. In Kampo medicine, an abdominal examination is commonly performed for the diagnosis of diseases. Thus, we examined the relationship between metabolic syndrome and abdominal tension. Our subjects were 999 people (619 males and 380 females) who underwent regular physical check-ups. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 14.5% (21.3% of males and 3.4% of females) and the prevalence rate of subjects with metabolic and pre-metabolic syndromes was 40.8% (55.9% of males and 16.3% of females). In addition, abdominal examinations detected 19.1% of hyperfunction, 64.6% of intermediate function, and 16.3% of hypofunction. Almost subjects with abdominal hyperfunction were classified as metabolic or pre-metabolic syndrome, and neither metabolic nor pre-metabolic syndrome was present in subjects with abdominal hypofunction. In conclusion, assessment of abdominal tension may become an additional valuable screening method for metabolic syndrome.