To evaluate the associations between anthropometric indices and components of metabolic syndrome (MetS), including blood pressure, fasting blood sugar (FBS), triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and waist circumference (WC) in Iranian adults.

Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a population-based cohort.

Fasa adults’ cohort study, a rural community-based cohort in Fars province, Iran.

A total of 1550 adults aged 35–70 years with MetS, identified from among 10 118 cohort participants using the National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Programme III criteria.

The anthropometric indices include abdominal volume index (AVI), a body shape index (ABSI), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), body roundness index (BRI), body adiposity index (BAI), conicity index, ponderal index and visceral adiposity index (VAI).

Participants (56.1% female) with a mean age of 49.8±9.5 years. AVI was significantly associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) (β=0.010, p

Anthropometric indices, including VAI, AIP, BAI, BRI and AVI, exhibit significant associations with key components of MetS in Iranian adults, particularly blood pressure, glycaemic markers and central adiposity. Among these, BAI showed the strongest correlation with MetS parameters, while ABSI displayed the weakest.