RESUMO
A study was conducted to estimate prevalence of metabolic syndrome among 150 rural women in the age group of 30-50 years in a primary health centre area in Tamil Nadu. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was estimated using National Cholesterol Education program (NCEP), Third report Adult Treatment Panel ATP III criteria, and Modified NCEP ATP III criteria for Asian Indians. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was found to be 30.7% based on NCEP, ATP-III Criteria. Based on the Modified NCEP, ATP-III Criteria, the prevalence was found to be 36%.The most commonly observed components of metabolic syndrome in this study was increased waist circumference (56.0%) followed by low HDL (45.3%), high triglyceride (37.3%), high blood pressure 29.3%, and fasting blood sugar 12.7%. Identifying the risk factors and treating patients with the metabolic syndrome is a public health challenge especially in the rural population.