The purpose of screening is to find and treat diseases early. They are given to people who may be at high risk, but who don’t have problems.
During a doctor visit, you will be weighed. Your doctor can also measure your waist.
All adults should have their blood pressure checked. This can be done during a doctor visit. If it’s under 120/80 mm Hg, you can go 2 years until your next check. If it’s higher, you should be checked yearly.
A fasting blood cholesterol test measures more than one type. If your levels are too high, you should be checked again within a year.
You can go 2 to 5 years if your levels are in a normal range.
The American Diabetes Association says testing should start at age 45 years. If your levels are in a normal range, you can wait 3 years to be tested again.
You can be tested at any age for being overweight with one or more of these:
People with prediabetes should be tested every year.
Diabetes mellitus type 2 screening. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T474314/Diabetes-mellitus-type-2-screening . Accessed May 30, 2018. Accessed August 27, 2018.
Hypertension. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115345/Hypertension . Updated August 20, 2018. Accessed August 27, 2018.
Metabolic syndrome. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/nutritional-disorders/obesity-and-the-metabolic-syndrome/metabolic-syndrome. Updated December 2016. August 27, 2018.
Metabolic syndrome. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/metabolic-syndrome. Accessed August 27, 2018.
Metabolic syndrome in adults. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T113812/Metabolic-syndrome-in-adults . Updated March 29, 2018. Accessed August 27, 2018.
Obesity in adults. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115009/Obesity-in-adults . Updated April 4, 2018. Accessed August 27, 2018.
Prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome. American Heart Association website. Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/metabolic-syndrome/prevention-and-treatment-of-metabolic-syndrome. Accessed August 27, 2018.
Last reviewed May 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD