Pan F, et al. - Data from a population-based cohort study were used by the researchers to investigate the correlation of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components with knee pain severity trajectories. Among 985 individuals, 32% and 60% had MetS and radiographic knee osteoarthritis (ROA), respectively. "Minimal pain", "mild pain," and "moderate pain" were the three pain trajectories identified. When contrasted with the “minimal pain” trajectory group, central obesity raised the risk of belonging to both “mild pain” and “moderate pain” trajectories, following adjustment for potential confounders; however, MetS, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL were only correlated with the “moderate” pain trajectory. About 37% to 70% of these relationships were defined by BMI/central obesity. In those with ROA, results were comparable. Hence, MetS and its components were predominantly related to worse pain trajectories through central obesity, indicating that the development and maintenance of worse pain trajectories could be due to MetS.