The occurrence of the metabolic syndrome in various ethnic groups – including Caucasians, Africans, Latin Americans, Asian Indians, Chinese, Aboriginal Australians, Polynesians and Micronesians – has been confirmed in several epidemiological studies. In developing countries, the lifestyle changes resulting from industrialization and rural-urban migration involve decreased levels of physical activity and the increased intake of energy. As reported by Viswanathan Mohan and Mohan Deepa in this article, the consequent rise in rates of obesity has led to a huge increase in the numbers of people with the metabolic syndrome in developing regions.