In recent years, many researchers have emphasized the importance of metabolic syndrome based on its increasing prevalence and its adverse prognosis due to associated chronic vascular complications. Upstream of a cluster of metabolic and vascular disorders is the accumulation of visceral adipose tissue, which plays a central role in the pathophysiology. In the accumulation of adipose tissues, cell cycle regulation is tightly linked to cellular processes such as proliferation, hypertrophy and apoptosis. In addition, various cell cycle abnormalities have also been observed in other tissues, such as kidneys and the cardiovascular system, and they are critically involved in the progression of disease. Here, we discuss cell cycle abnormalities in metabolic syndrome in various tissues. Furthermore, we describe the role of nuclear receptors in cell growth and survival, and glucose and lipid metabolism in the whole body. Therapeutic strategies for modulating various cell cycles in metabolic disorders by targeting nuclear receptors may overcome obesity and its chronic vascular complications in the future.