Insulin resistance and its cluster of associated abnormalities, defined as the metabolic syndrome, are important coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors. The report of the Adult Treatment Panel–III (ATP III) serves as a formal recognition of this, and the fact that approximately 25% of Western populations may be suffering from the untoward consequences of insulin resistance emphasizes the magnitude of the clinical problem. The aim of the definition of the metabolic syndrome based on ATP III criteria is to provide a tool able to identify insulin-resistant individuals, and it offers a pragmatic approach to the early identification of individuals at risk for CHD, with the potential benefit of a more aggressive lifestyle intervention and a more focused follow-up...