A method of safely and specifically treating the combined metabolic disturbances of insulin resistance and visceral adiposity in male subject with visceral adiposity, metabolic syndrome (also known as the `insulin resistance syndrome`, and `syndrome X`), type II diabetes, or insulin resistance by administering a 5-alpha reductase inhibiting compound of structural formula I, II, III, or IV is disclosed. The method is also concerned with the use of the 5alpha reductase inhibiting compound together with antidiabetic agents, lipid lowering agents, antihypertensive agents, antiobesity agents, testosterone, testosterone precursors, testosterone prodrugs, testosterone analogs, and other androgen receptor agonists for treating visceral adiposity, metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes and insulin resistance in men.