Mixed
Maintaining a metabolically healthy obese (MHO) phenotype is associated with lower waist circumference and younger age, and these individuals have diabetes and cardiovascular disease risks similar to metabolically healthy normal-weight subjects.
If you are obese but have normal blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, you are not automatically 'safe' from long-term health risks. Your risk of developing diabetes or heart disease is similar to normal-weight healthy people ONLY IF you maintain this metabolic health. The study suggests that keeping your waist circumference low and staying younger (or aging gracefully) are key to staying in this 'healthy obese' category. However, this state is unstable for many; about one-third of metabolically healthy obese individuals develop metabolic risks over 5-10 years. Focus on maintaining a healthy waistline rather than just BMI.
Sustained metabolic health in obese participants was associated with age #40 years and lower waist circumference... In contrast, participants progressing from the MHO to the MRO phenotype were significantly more likely to develop diabetes but not CVD/stroke events... obese subjects who maintained their metabolic health experienced risks for diabetes and CVD similar to MHNW subjects.
Why this rating
Prospective cohort study with a large sample size (n=3,743) and long follow-up (up to 10.3 years), though self-reported data and lack of direct insulin sensitivity measures are limitations.
Source
Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes in the Metabolically Healthy Obese Phenotype
Sarah Appleton et al. · Diabetes Care · 2013
DOI 10.2337/dc12-1971
Related findings · Mixed
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