The Metabolic Syndrome: The Emperor Needs Some Consistent Clothes: Response to Davidson and Alexander

Drs. Davidson (1) and Alexander (2) suggest that the so-called “metabolic syndrome” has reached sufficient prominence, i.e., it has “come of age,” and that it deserves a new section in Diabetes Care . While enthusiasm about the “metabolic syndrome” among professionals, the media, and the public has developed rapidly and perhaps “come of age,” a more apt description of its scientific status is that “this emperor needs some consistent clothes” (3). Given the following realities of the state of the metabolic syndrome at present, healthy caution is necessary. 1 ) There is no consensus …