Efficacy of Topiramate for Weight Loss in Subjects With Metabolic Syndrome

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome * BMI \>/=30kg/m2 * and 3 of the 5 following criteria: 1. Triglycerides \>/=150mg/dl 2. HDL cholesterol \</=40mg/dl (men) or \</=50mg/dl (women) 3. Blood pressure \> 130/85 4. Waist circumference \>/=40inches (men) or \>/=35inches (women) 5. Fasting blood glucose \>/=110mg/dl or diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus * Able to give informed consent * Diabetes Mellitus must be well controlled for the past 3 months and HbA1c \</=9.0 * Hypertension must be well controlled for the past 3 months and BP \<140/90 * Willing and able to take oral medication * Female subjects must be post menopausal for 1 year, surgically sterile, or practicing an effective method of birth control; and have a negative monthly pregnancy test at screening and throughout the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Any person unable to take topiramate * Renal insufficiency * Taking medication with known serious interactions with topiramate * History of psychosis, epilepsy or any other disease in which taking topiramate may interfere with treatment of that disease * Positive urine drug screen * Previous treatment with topiramate and subsequent adverse event; or concurrent treatment with topiramate * History of nephrolithiasis * Pregnancy or lactating * Subjects who are members of the same household * Currently on an exercise or diet plan * Bariatric surgery within the past 5 years * Clinically significant medical conditions including (but not limited to) symptomatic coronary artery disease or peripheral vascular disease, or taking nitrates; malignancy or history of malignancy within the past 5 years (except basal cell carcinoma); Impaired renal function as defined by an estimated creatinine clearance \</=60ml/min; Gastrointestinal system diseases including active liver disease; ALT or AST\>2 times the upper limit of normal; Pulmonary disorders; Endocrine disorders except for well controlled diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism; Any disease or condition that compromises the function of those body systems that could result in altered absorption, excess accumulation, or impaired metabolism or excretion of topiramate. * Subjects who in the opinion of the investigator should not be enrolled in the study because of the precautions, warnings, or contraindications sections of the topiramate package insert * Family members of employees or investigators and employees of the investigator or study center may participate but may not serve any staff role for themselves.