## 1 Introduction  
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of abnormalities related to metabolic health that increases the chances of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2 DM), such as high triglyceride (TG), reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), increased blood pressure (BP), excess waist circumference (WC), and high fasting blood sugar (FBG) [1]. Metabolic syndrome has been reported to be among the primary causes of mortality and morbidity globally, with an estimated 1.9 million deaths reported in both low- and middle-income countries [1]. In South Africa, the prevalence of MetS was reported to be 21.8%, with 15.6% being males and 24.8% being female adults [2]. Meanwhile, in the town of Ellisras, the prevalence of MetS was reported to be 23%, with males being 8.6% and females being 36.8% [3]. Previous studies have reported that MetS doubles the burden and accelerates the development of CVD and T2 DM [4, 5]. On the other hand, poor dietary habits, and choices such as frequent consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), among other things, contributes significantly to the onset of MetS [6, 7].  
Sugar-sweetened beverages, defined as energy-dense beverages with little or no nutritional value to fulfil the nutritional needs of the body [8], are the primary sources of added sugars [9]. Nowadays, there has been a rise in the popularity of the consumption of SSBs because of the expansion of supermarket and spaza shops into informal urban and rural areas [10]. Moreover, it has been reported that these SSBs markets mostly target adolescents and young adults [11]. Of significant concern is the fact that poor dietary habits and choices established early in life might progress into adulthood and old age [12]. Furthermore, an increase in the consumption of SSBs is also paralleled by adverse metabolic health complications [13].  
High consumption of SSBs has been reported in many studies to be associated with MetS and its components, including high blood pressure, central obesity, impaired fasting blood glucose and hypertriacylglycercaemia [14; 15; 16]. Notably, high consumption of SSBs also increases other risk factors such as gout, cancer, increased uric acid levels, non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases and CVD [5; 17]. However, other studies did not find an association between high consumption of SSBs and MetS, including its components [18; 19].  
Moreover, there is a paucity of data on the association between MetS and the SSBs consumption in Limpopo Province of South Africa especially among young adults of rural areas. In the Ellisras population, thus far there is evidence of the risk of MetS as a result of lifestyle [3], the relationship of binge drinking and MetS [20], and the relationship between low 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and cardio-metabolic risk factors [21] and the obesity indices used to identify MetS [22] among young adults.  
Therefore, the present study was aimed at investigating the association between SSBs consumption and MetS components in Ellisras young rural adults aged 22-30 years in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Researching this matter is significant for policymakers and intervention programmes, especially those aimed at adding improved knowledge and creating informed awareness about adverse health effects associated with overconsumption of SSBs and this would assist in efforts that promotes a healthy population.