Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a chronic, multi-component disease characterised by central obesity, hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, and hypertension. Since MetS leads to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, development of certain cancers, and eventually to premature death, it is not surprising that it draws the attention of scientists around the world. The aetiopathology of MetS is complex and still not fully understood. This review focuses on the role of endocrine factors such as cortisol and insulin in the development of MetS. It also takes a look at some of the contributing lifestyle and genetic factors as well as at the current knowledge about its treatment. Metabolički sindrom (MetS) kronična je višekomponentna bolest, koju karakteriziraju abdominalna debljina, hiperglikemija, dislipidemija i hipertenzija. Kako MetS dovodi do razvoja šećerne bolesti tipa 2, kardiovaskularnih i nekih malignih bolesti te posljedično do prerane smrti, ne čudi da MetS privlači pozornost znanstvenika diljem svijeta. Etiopatologija MetSa je kompleksna te još nije u potpunosti razjašnjena. Cilj je ovoga rada dati literaturni pregled uloge nekih endokrinih poremećaja, kao što su poremećaj kortizola i inzulina, u razvoju MetSa. Također, razmatrani su i neki faktori načina života/životnog stila te genetički faktori koji pridonose razvoju MetSa. Na kraju su spomenuta trenutačna saznanja u liječenju MetSa i njegovih komponenti.