Obesity and overweight are nowadays very prevalent worldwide. They are known to 
be linked with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular comorbidities and 
mortality. Abdominal obesity is frequently associated with a collection of 
metabolic disorders that include elevated blood pressure, characteristic lipid 
abnormalities (low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high triglycerides) 
and increased fasting glucose, with an underlying situation of insulin 
resistance, which has been defined as metabolic syndrome, conferring a high 
cardiovascular risk profile to these subjects. A multidisciplinary approach is 
required, including lifestyle changes and pharmacological and surgical 
approaches. Intensive management of all the risk factors of the metabolic 
syndrome is also needed to reduce body weight and waist circumference, lessen 
insulin resistance and avoid the development of new-onset diabetes and 
cardiovascular disease associated with this entity. This article will review the 
recently published literature and guideline updates on this topic, although it 
is not yet included in the highlights.