Korean J Intern Med.  2017 Jul;32(4):611-621. 10.3904/kjim.2016.259.

Metabolically healthy obesity: a friend or foe?

• Jung CH
• Lee WJ
• Song KH

• KMID: 2387705
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2016.259

Abstract

Obesity is associated with a reduced life expectancy, largely because obese individuals are at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and several types of cancer. Much interest has recently focused on the concept of "all obesity is not created equally." Obese individuals without the metabolic abnormalities that commonly accompany excess adiposity, a condition known as metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), account for a substantial proportion of the obese adult population. Numerous possible mechanisms underlying MHO have been suggested, including adipose tissue distribution and inflammation. However, the prognostic value of MHO is controversial and considerably challenging. The lack of a standard definition for metabolic health and obesity as well as the dynamic properties of MHO may have contributed to these inconsistent results. This review aimed to present several current issues regarding MHO including its definition, epidemiology, natural course, suggested mechanisms, and clinical implications in the context of patient prognosis.

Keyword

Obesity, metabolically benign; Obesity; Adipose tissue distribution; Inflammation; Prognosis

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue
Adiposity
Adult
Cardiovascular Diseases
Epidemiology
Friends*
Humans
Inflammation
Life Expectancy
Obesity
Obesity, Metabolically Benign*
Prognosis