Food insecurity is a major public health concern in the United States. Adults with food insecurity face numerous challenges that contribute to having an increased risk of mortality and chronic disease. Little is known, however, about the cluster of chronic diseases and food insecurity. Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of factors marked by hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and abdominal obesity, effects over one third of Americans and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. The risk of developing metabolic syndrome is significantly affected by lifestyle factors such as habitually following a healthy dietary pattern, which may be altered in the state of food insecurity. This proposed study seeks to examine the associations between food insecurity and metabolic syndrome, one less studied health outcome of food insecurity. Using data from the 2005-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), the proposed aims of this diversity supplement are to: 1) develop research skills to conduct secondary data analyses using NHANES, a nationally representative data set; and 2) examine the association between food insecurity and metabolic syndrome among US adults. The achievement of these aims will enhance research skills—biostatistics and manuscript development—necessary for a postdoctoral position and advance the scientific literature on food insecurity and health.