To determine the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in a sample of apparently healthy people. Cross-sectional study of 382 apparently healthy people attending Al-Assad University Hospital clinics in Damascus (not as patients). Anthropometry (height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure), fasting blood glucose, triglyceride and high density lipoprotein were examined for all the participants, and then the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was determined according to International Diabetes Federation and National Cholesterol Education Program / Adult Treatment Panel 3 definitions.