Background: Metabolic syndrome is a combination  of medical disorders that increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Poor life style increases the risk of metabolic syndrome.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of gender, age group, and health risk behaviors on metabolic syndrome and to compare the level of association of metabolic syndrome with its components.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on who attended Her Royal Highness (HRH) Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center for their annual health check-up from November, 2007 to December, 2008. The authors used logistic regression for multivariate analysis and two-tailed p-value of less than 0.05.

Results: 466 patients were conducted into the study. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 11%. There were no significant differences in gender and age groups. Inadequate exercise was the only health risk behavior with odds ratio of 2.6 (95%CI=1.1-5.9). Low HDL was a significant  predictor of metabolic syndrome with odds ratio of 30.6 (95%CI=5.9-158.0). High serum uric acid, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were the concomitant abnormal findings of metabolic syndrome and cardiomegaly as revealed by a chest X-ray, was also a concomitant finding.

Conclusion: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was found 11%. Inadequate exersice and low HDL were risk factors of metabolic syndrome.