What is metabolic health - and why does it matter?

What is metabolic health?

Metabolic health refers to how well your body processes food, uses and stores energy, and regulates blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood fats. Good metabolic health is important for reducing the chance of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

When metabolic health declines, metabolic syndrome can develop. Metabolic syndrome is a combination of health issues that increase the chance of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. It is diagnosed when three or more risk factors are present: high blood pressure, raised blood sugar, high triglycerides, low HDL (‘good’) cholesterol, or excess fat around the waist.

Poor metabolic health is also linked to other long-term conditions, including fatty liver disease and some cancers. The good news is that metabolic health can often be improved. Eating well, staying active, getting enough sleep, and managing your weight and other risk factors can help reduce your chance of chronic disease and support your overall health.

What is good metabolic health?

Good metabolic health means your body can effectively regulate glucose, insulin, fats, blood pressure, and store energy.

You may not notice any obvious symptoms when your metabolic health is good.

Having healthy results across these measures generally indicates better metabolic health and a lower chance of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

However, metabolic health isn't simply about your weight or how you look. Someone can have a healthy BMI but still have high blood pressure, or abnormal cholesterol or blood sugar levels.

How many people are metabolically unhealthy?

Poor metabolic health is surprisingly common and can affect people at any body weight. A large UK Biobank analysis found that 86% of UK adults had at least one marker of poor metabolic health.¹ In the US, only 12.2% of adults were considered metabolically healthy.²

Around one-third of people in the UK have metabolic syndrome, which is diagnosed when three or more metabolic risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high triglycerides, or increased waist circumference, are present.¹

Because poor metabolic health often develops without obvious symptoms, many people don't realise they are at risk. A health check can assess key markers including blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and weight.

What are the symptoms of poor metabolic health?

Poor metabolic health doesn't always cause obvious symptoms. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance can develop without you knowing, making regular health checks important.

You may notice non-specific symptoms such as tiredness, increased hunger, or difficulty concentrating, but these can have many causes.

Dark, velvety patches of skin around the neck or armpits and increased skin tags can also be signs of insulin resistance.

If you have symptoms of high blood sugar or risk factors for type 2 diabetes, speak to your GP about having your blood glucose checked.

What causes poor metabolic health?

Poor metabolic health is rarely caused by one bad habit or a lack of willpower.

It develops when a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and lifestyle factors make it harder for the body to manage blood sugar, fats, blood pressure, and energy effectively.

How to improve metabolic health

Improving metabolic health isn't about perfection. Small, sustainable changes to your diet, activity, sleep, and weight can work together to improve how your body uses energy, responds to insulin, and regulates blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure.

For some people, medication may also be appropriate. GLP-1 medicines such as Mounjaro and Wegovy can reduce appetite and support weight loss, which may improve several aspects of metabolic health alongside lifestyle changes.

What to remember

• Metabolic health describes how well your body regulates blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, and energy.

• Poor metabolic health can increase your likelihood of conditions including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and fatty liver disease.

• It can develop without obvious symptoms and isn't determined by weight alone.

• Blood pressure, blood sugar, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and waist circumference can help assess your metabolic health.

• You can improve your metabolic health with sustainable lifestyle changes. Eating a balanced diet, staying active, building muscle, getting enough sleep, and managing your weight and other risk factors can all help.