metabolic syndrome: a common problem among office workers

background: metabolic syndrome (msx) is associated with several health problems. workers are an important part of any organization. objective: to determine the prevalence of msx and related variables among office workers. methods: this cross-sectional study evaluated 1488 office workers in qom province, central iran, by using a multi-stage cluster sampling. diagnosis of msx was based on blood hdl-cholesterol, triglyceride, and fasting blood sugar (fbs) levels and waist circumference, and blood pressure. results: the overall prevalence of msx was 35.9% (95% ci 33.5% to 38.3%), higher in men (37.2%) than in women (20.6%), and increased with age. the most common laboratory findings of msx were hypertriglyceridemia (45.9%) and low hdl-cholesterol level (45.5%). office workers with msx had a significantly (p<0.001) higher body mass index than those without msx. lack of regular leisure time physical activity (p=0.003), and low intake of fruits (p=0.02) were associated with msx. conclusion: the prevalence of msx was very high among office workers. workplace health improvement programs through identifying and preventing msx are necessary for improvement of staff's health.