Abstract: ObjectiveTo examine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and its risk factors among employed floating population aged 18-59 years in Guangdong Province so as to provide the evidence for taking preventive measures. MethodsUsing a stratified multistage cluster sampling method, employed floating population aged 18-59 years were selected in Guangdong Province in 2012. Information about basic information, smoke, drink, diet, physical activity, height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose, blood lipid and health condition was collected through face to face questionnaire survey. Physical examinations were conducted and blood samples, collected. MS was defined by diagnostic criteria of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF 2005). Factors influencing MS were analyzed by liner mixed model of R software.ResultsA total of 1 753 employed floating population aged 18-59 were selected. Of them, 932 (53.17%) were males and 821 (46.83%), females; 893（50.9%）were from urban areas and 860（49.1%）, from rural ones. The prevalence rate of MS was 11.2%.The prevalence rate of MC in females (13.0%) was higher than that in males (9.7%); that in urban areas (13.4%) was higher than that in rural areas (9.0%)（P<0.05 or P<0.01）.The prevalence of MS was increased with age（P<0.01）. The liner mixed model showed that compared with no smokers, ex-smokers and smokers smoking 1-9, 10-19, or ≥20 cigarettes per day had higher risk of MS (ORs:2.5［1.5-4.3］, 3.0［(1.9-4.8)］, 1.9［1.1-3.2］ and 1.8［1.1-2.9］); compared with non-drinkers, drinkers with<1 time, 1-2 times, >2 times per week had higher risk of MS (ORs: 4.4［3.3-6.0］, 3.0［1.9-4.9］ and 3.1［2.0-4.9］); compared with working hours ≤8 h, working hours for 9-10 h and >10 h per day had higher risk of MS (ORs:8.7［3.2-23.7］, 4.5［1.6-12.3］); compared with no moderate physical activities, respondents with moderate physical activities had less risk of MS (OR: 0.7［0.5-0.9］); compared with sleeping time <7 h, those with sleeping time ≥8 h had less risk of MS (OR:0.6［0.4-0.9］); compared with higher life or work stress, respondents with normal life or work stress had less risk of MS (ORs:0.7(0.6-1.0),0.7［0.5-0.9］), while less/no life stress and work stress had higher risk of MS (ORs: 1.9［1.4-2.6］, 1.9［1.3-2.6］).ConclusionThe MS prevalence rate of employed floating population in Guangdong Province was severe. Cigarette, drinking, labor intensity, absent physical activity, less sleeping time, and stress may be the risk factors associated with MS.