Using both waist size and handgrip strength together predicts metabolic syndrome better than using either one alone.

The worst metabolic health is seen in people who have both a big waist and weak muscles for their size—this combination is a much stronger warning sign than either one alone.

Adults with the smallest handgrip strength and largest waist size had over 4 times higher risk of metabolic syndrome issues in women and over 8 times in men compared to those with strongest grip and smallest waist.

People with weaker handgrip strength relative to their body weight tend to have worse metabolic syndrome scores.

Having a larger waist circumference is the main indicator of metabolic syndrome risk in adults from middle-income countries.

People with bigger waistlines are much more likely to have multiple health problems like high blood sugar, bad cholesterol, and high blood pressure.