This study examined the distribution of subjects in three groups, namely normal (0), caution (1∼2), and metabolic syndrome (MS) (≥3), based on the number of diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome. The data was sourced from the eighth (2019) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Elevated blood pressure occurred most frequently in caution group and three-combined cases were the most frequent in MS group. In males, older subjects and those with lower education levels were in higher numbers in MS group. Higher frequencies of eating breakfast and eating out decreased the probability of being in MS group, and smoking increased this probability in total. Males consuming alcohol more than five times per month showed the highest probability of belonging to MS group, but in females, this was true of those drinking less than once a month. An increase in body mass index and a higher waist circumference increased the probability of being in MS group in both males and females. Subjects with higher blood pressure, blood glucose, and triglyceride, and lower HDL-cholesterol showed a higher probability of being in MS group. The intake of vegetables was the highest in MS group for both males and females and that of fruits was the highest for females in caution group. The intakes of meats and beverages were the lowest in MS group. In conclusion, health behavior and food intake are related to MS and therefore the improvement in these behaviors is needed to reduce the risk of MS.

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