The metabolic syndrome: An exercise in utility or futility?

Editorial commentThe debate on various aspects of the metabolic syndrome has been going on for quite some time, especially regarding its utility as a clinical tool. In fact, questions have even been raised whether it even deserves to be a clinical entity. This article looks at the various objections, which have been raised about the metabolic syndrome by those against the concept as well as replies by the protagonists justifying the concept, and importantly, the utility in clinical practice of the metabolic syndrome.Unfortunately, as happens in such debates, if we are to arrive at some sort of a “consensus”, we need the inputs not only of the major players who have been a part of the debate on either side, but a wider and more worldwide inputs so as to give it as global a view as possible.Both the sides of the debate have been presented in what we sincerely feel is a nonpartisan manner and we hope that this will be a first step in getting your feedback on what you feel is the status of the metabolic syndrome and what should be done to arrive at some sort of a widely accepted “consensus”.We hope to use this Journal as a forum for this. We invite your views and inputs in the form of letters, commentaries, perspectives, etc.