What Blood Tests Are Included in Metabolic Health Screening?

Metabolic health is simply your body’s ability to manage energy, sugar, and fat in a way that keeps everything in balance. When it’s working well, you’re more likely to enjoy steady energy, a healthy weight, and a reduced risk of chronic disease.

For those exploring options like medical weight loss or anyone interested in taking a proactive approach to their well-being, metabolic health screening is an invaluable tool for understanding your health.

In this article, we’ll break down the main tests included in a metabolic health panel, explain what each one measures, and show how these results can be used to create a personalized, targeted plan for better long-term wellness.

What Is Metabolic Health Screening?

A metabolic health screening is a lab-based assessment designed to show how effectively your body converts food into energy and maintains balance across key systems. It’s not focused on diagnosing a single condition. Instead, it paints a complete picture of how your body is functioning as a whole.

This type of screening is preventive, meaning it’s just as valuable for people who feel healthy as it is for those with existing concerns. Catching subtle imbalances early allows for changes that can help prevent future health issues.

The results offer precise, actionable data that can guide nutrition choices, exercise plans, and other targeted lifestyle adjustments. It’s a more innovative, evidence-based way to make health decisions that truly fit your individual needs.

Understanding the Core Metabolic Health Panel

Think of the core metabolic health panel as your body’s progress report. Instead of focusing on a single number, it brings together a variety of lab tests, each revealing a different piece of the bigger picture.

Together, they give you and your naturopathic doctor the clearest possible picture of your overall metabolic well-being.

1. Blood Sugar & Insulin Metrics

These tests reveal how your body processes and regulates sugar, which is at the heart of metabolic health. They can pick up early signs of imbalance, often before you notice any changes in how you feel.

• Fasting glucose: This measures your blood sugar after you’ve gone without food for 8–12 hours. It shows how your body manages blood sugar in a resting state, without the influence of a recent meal. If your fasting glucose is higher than usual, it may be an early sign of pre-diabetes or diabetes.
• A1C (HbA1c): Unlike fasting glucose, this test looks at your average blood sugar levels over the last 2–3 months. It’s a better indicator of long-term patterns rather than just a single moment in time. High A1C results can point to ongoing issues with blood sugar control that need attention.
• Fasting insulin: This measures how much insulin your body is producing to keep blood sugar stable. If the number is high, it could mean your body is working harder than it should, which is often an early sign of insulin resistance. Knowing this gives you the chance to make changes before blood sugar problems develop.

2. Cholesterol & Blood Lipids

This group of tests checks the types and amounts of fat in your blood. While the word “cholesterol” can sound negative, not all cholesterol is bad. In fact, some cholesterol is essential for good health.

These numbers help you understand your heart health and your body’s fat metabolism.

• Total cholesterol: This is the sum of all types of cholesterol in your blood. It’s a helpful starting point, but it needs to be interpreted alongside other numbers for a full picture. Too much total cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease, especially if the balance between good and bad cholesterol is off.
• LDL (“bad” cholesterol): High LDL can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries, which may increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. This number is one that most people aim to keep low. Beyond total LDL, tracking sdLDL (small dense LDL) and VLDL is crucial, since these particles are especially atherogenic and more strongly linked to cardiovascular risk. Understanding your LDL level can help guide diet and lifestyle choices that protect your heart.
• HDL (“good” cholesterol): HDL works like a clean-up crew, helping remove excess cholesterol from your bloodstream. Higher HDL is generally a good thing because it’s linked to lower heart disease risk. If your HDL is low, you can often raise it with healthy fats, exercise, and other lifestyle changes.
• Triglycerides: These are another type of fat found in your blood, often influenced by diet, alcohol intake, and activity level. High triglycerides can contribute to heart disease risk, especially when paired with high LDL or low HDL. Lowering triglycerides often involves improving your diet and increasing physical activity.

3. Inflammatory Markers

Inflammation isn’t always harmful – it’s part of your body’s defense system, but long-term, low-level inflammation can quietly damage your health. This test looks for signs of that hidden stress.

• Hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein): This measures very small amounts of inflammation in your body. Even mild elevations can point to ongoing issues that raise your risk for metabolic and heart-related conditions. Knowing your hs-CRP level can help guide lifestyle or dietary changes aimed at calming inflammation.

4. Liver & Kidney Function Tests

Your liver and kidneys are the body’s central filtration systems, removing waste and processing nutrients. These tests check whether they’re working correctly.

• ALT and AST: These are enzymes that show how well your liver is functioning. Elevated levels can mean your liver is under stress from things like poor diet, certain medications, or other health conditions. Catching issues early gives you a better chance to reverse or improve liver health.
• Creatinine and BUN: These measure how effectively your kidneys are clearing waste from your blood. If the numbers are too high, it could mean your kidneys are having trouble filtering properly. Tracking these levels over time can help catch kidney problems before they get worse.

5. Hormonal Regulators & Thyroid

Your hormones control how your body uses energy, so they play a significant role in metabolism. If they’re out of balance, you might notice changes in weight, mood, or energy levels.

• TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone): This checks if your thyroid is producing the right amount of hormones. Too much or too little can affect everything from your metabolism to your mood. Identifying thyroid imbalances can lead to relatively simple treatments that make a big difference in how you feel.
• Free T4: This measures the active form of thyroid hormone in your blood. It works hand-in-hand with TSH to show the full picture of thyroid function. Together, these tests help confirm whether your thyroid is supporting healthy metabolism.
• Optional sex hormones: Tests for hormones like testosterone or estrogen may be included if your symptoms suggest they could be affecting your metabolic balance. These are typically ordered based on your personal health history or concerns.

Additional Tests That Offer Deeper Insight

While the core metabolic health panel covers the essentials, additional tests can uncover issues that aren’t obvious but may still be affecting your energy, mood, or long-term wellness. These extra checks provide a more complete picture, helping you fine-tune your health plan.

• Hemoglobin: This test measures the protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. Low levels can signal anemia, which may cause fatigue, weakness, and even shortness of breath during everyday activities. By identifying anemia early, you can address it with targeted dietary changes, supplementation, or further evaluation.
• Vitamin D: Often called the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D supports bone health, immune function, and mood balance. Many adults are deficient without realizing it, particularly those who spend little time outdoors or live in areas with limited sunlight. Testing your levels can reveal whether you need supplements or dietary adjustments to reach an optimal range.
• Omega-3 Index: This measures the percentage of omega-3 fatty acids in your red blood cells, a key factor for heart, brain, and joint health. Low omega-3 levels may increase inflammation and cardiovascular risk over time. If your index is low, adding fatty fish or high-quality supplements can help restore balance.
• Ferritin: Ferritin reflects how much iron your body has stored, which is critical for energy production and overall metabolism. Low ferritin can lead to ongoing fatigue and poor exercise tolerance, while high levels may indicate other health issues. Tracking ferritin ensures you address iron imbalances safely and effectively.
• Other targeted markers: Depending on your health concerns, your provider may suggest tests for magnesium, homocysteine, or other nutrients and compounds. These markers can detect subtle imbalances that might otherwise go unnoticed. Addressing these can help prevent more significant health issues in the future.

In some cases, these extra markers can reveal hidden patterns that influence how your body responds to different interventions.

For example, if deficiencies, inflammation, and insulin resistance all appear together, a comprehensive approach might include nutritional changes, targeted supplements, and, when clinically appropriate, medical weight loss therapies like tirzepatide or semaglutide to address multiple factors at once.

Who Should Consider This Screening

Metabolic health screenings are valuable for more than just people who feel unwell. They’re a proactive way to understand your body better and make informed health decisions before problems arise.

• Those with ongoing fatigue: Feeling tired all the time despite good sleep can point to deeper issues like blood sugar instability, nutrient deficiencies, or hormonal imbalances. A metabolic screening can help pinpoint the cause rather than just treating the symptom. Once identified, these issues can often be corrected with relatively simple, targeted changes.
• People with unexplained weight changes: Gaining or losing weight without changing your diet or activity level may indicate shifts in your metabolism or hormone balance. The screening reveals if factors like thyroid function, insulin levels, or inflammation are involved. This information allows for a tailored plan rather than trial-and-error approaches.
• Frequent sugar cravings: Intense cravings can sometimes be linked to how your body regulates blood sugar. Testing can uncover if insulin resistance or other metabolic issues are contributing. Addressing these underlying causes can make it easier to manage cravings and improve overall nutrition.
• Family history of chronic disease: If your family has a history of diabetes, heart disease, or other metabolic conditions, you may be at higher risk. Early testing lets you spot small changes before they become serious problems. With this knowledge, you can take preventive steps tailored to your personal risk factors.
• Those wanting a wellness baseline: Even if you feel healthy, having a record of your numbers now provides a valuable point of comparison for the future. This makes it easier to notice changes over time and respond before they impact your health. It’s a proactive investment in your long-term well-being.

How These Tests Shape Your Personalized Plan

The real power of a metabolic screening is how the results are used to create a plan that’s unique to you. Instead of generic health advice, you get targeted recommendations backed by real data.

• Targeted nutrition strategies: Your results can show whether you need to focus on blood sugar balance, heart health, or reducing inflammation through diet. For example, if your fasting insulin is high, your plan might emphasize low-glycemic foods that keep blood sugar steady. This ensures your meals work with your body, not against it.
• Customized supplementation: Bloodwork can reveal deficiencies you might not notice from symptoms alone, such as low vitamin D, magnesium, or omega-3 levels. Addressing these with the right dosage and form of supplements can improve your health faster and more effectively than guesswork. It also helps you avoid unnecessary supplements you don’t need.
• Lifestyle adjustments: Results may guide changes to sleep habits, stress management techniques, or physical activity levels. If inflammation is high, your provider may recommend gentle exercise and recovery-focused activities instead of intense training. This ensures your lifestyle supports your health rather than adding strain.
• Monitoring and follow-up: Your first screening is a starting point, not the end of the process. By retesting at regular intervals, you can see how your body responds to changes and make adjustments as needed. This keeps your plan effective over the long term.
• Preventive focus: Your plan aims to keep you in an optimal range from the start, rather than waiting for symptoms or diagnoses. This proactive approach can reduce the likelihood of needing more intensive medical interventions later. It’s about building health, not just avoiding illness.

Your results can also guide the decision to include advanced therapies when needed. For example, if blood sugar regulation proves challenging despite lifestyle changes, your provider may discuss options such as GLP-1 for weight loss as part of a broader, evidence-based strategy to improve metabolic function and support long-term health.

How to Prepare for Your Metabolic Screening

Preparing the right way helps ensure your results are as accurate and useful as possible. These small steps make a big difference in how well your provider can interpret your numbers and create a plan that works for you.

• Fast for 8–12 hours before your appointment: Many metabolic tests, especially those related to blood sugar and certain fats, are most accurate when you haven’t eaten recently. Fasting overnight is easiest – just avoid food and sugary drinks after dinner and schedule your test for the next morning. Water is fine and encouraged.
• Stay well-hydrated: Drinking enough water before your test makes it easier to draw blood and helps maintain stable readings for specific markers. Aim to drink water as you usually would, avoiding dehydration or excessive caffeine right before your appointment. Proper hydration also supports overall comfort during the process.
• Schedule early in the day: Morning appointments work best for fasting tests, minimizing the time you go without food. This also reduces the chance of daily activities or meals affecting your results. An early slot often means quicker lab turnaround, so you’ll get your results sooner.
• Bring a list of medications and supplements: Your healthcare provider needs to know what you’re currently taking, as some substances can influence test results. This includes over-the-counter items, herbal remedies, and vitamins. Being transparent helps your provider interpret the data correctly.
• Avoid strenuous exercise right before the test: Intense workouts can temporarily affect specific blood markers, such as enzymes or glucose levels. Give your body a day to recover from heavy activity so your results reflect your usual state. Light movement like walking, is fine and won’t interfere.

Ready to Discover What Your Body Is Really Saying?

At The Adapt Lab in Solana Beach, we combine advanced metabolic health screenings with personalized care, ensuring every recommendation is grounded in your unique data and goals.

Your screening is just the starting point. Dr. Larson uses these results to design a personalized plan for your biology, whether that means targeted nutrition guidance, hormone balancing, or medical weight loss options like GLP-1 therapy, tirzepatide, or semaglutide when clinically appropriate.

From your first consultation to ongoing follow-ups, you’ll have a partner who explains each test, why it matters, and how it connects to your overall health. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start understanding what’s really happening beneath the surface, contact us or schedule your consultation with The Adapt Lab today and take your first step toward a smarter, healthier future.