What is metabolically healthy obesity?
What is metabolically healthy obesity? is metabolically healthy obesity?
There are no guidelines for defining metabolically healthy obesity.
There are guidelines to define metabolic syndrome, however. Doctor will diagnose metabolic syndrome if a person has three of the following factors:
- a waist that measures over 40 inches in men or over 35 inches in women
- fat, or triglyceride, levels in the blood of 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) or above
- levels of high density lipoprotein, or “good,” cholesterol below 40 mg/dl in men or below 50 mg/dl in women
- fasting blood glucose of 100 mg/dl or above
- blood pressure of 130/85 millimeters of mercury or above
If a person has obesity but fewer than three of these factors, they have metabolically healthy obesity. However, if the person does not lose weight, the symptoms of metabolic syndrome may start to appear.
Metabolic syndrome can also affect people without obesity, but obesity is a major risk factor.
The exact link between obesity and these conditions is unclear, but inflammation appears to play a role. Experts have found that when a person with obesity loses weight, inflammation levels also tend to fall.
What treatments can help a person manage obesity?
Health professionals do not yet know why some people with obesity do not develop metabolic syndrome. Genetic factors may play a role.
In 2013, a study found that people with metabolically healthy obesity were more likely to have lower levels of inflammation than those with obesity and metabolic syndrome.
A rodent study from 2016 found that some proteins might protect the body from the harmful effects of obesity. More research is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these mechanisms in humans, however.
Some experts have suggested that the type of fat a person has and where it collects in the body may make a difference. Fat that collects around the lower trunk may be less harmful than fat that accumulates around the abdomen, for example.
Another team found that the bodies of metabolically healthy people burn fat more effectively than those of people with metabolic issues such as type 2 diabetes.
Lifestyle habits
Obesity usually results from a high energy intake and a sedentary lifestyle. That said, some people with obesity are physically active and make healthful food choices.
One study suggests that some healthful lifestyle habits can improve a person’s outlook regardless of their BMI.
These habits include:
- not smoking
- limiting alcohol intake
- getting 30 minutes of exercise daily
- eating five or more servings of vegetables and fruits daily
Making healthful lifestyle choices can benefit people regardless of whether they have obesity. Also, people with obesity who follow these guidelines may have a better outcome than people with obesity who do not.
Sleep quality
In 2017, researchers revealed a difference in sleep quality between people with metabolically healthy obesity and those with metabolic syndrome.
Specifically, they found that women with metabolically healthy obesity had regular sleep disturbances, but they did not have problems with sleep duration or overall sleep quality. Those with metabolic syndrome did experience these problems.
These findings do not prove that sleep quality is a factor for metabolically healthy obesity, though it may perhaps be an indicator.
Many people with obesity have sleep apnea, which affects their breathing while they sleep. Learn more here.
Other factors
A study from 2016 found that people with metabolically healthy obesity tended to be younger, female, more likely to exercise, and less likely to smoke or drink heavily.
Many people with obesity develop additional health problems known collectively as metabolic syndrome. However, not everyone with obesity has these complications. Some people call this “metabolically healthy obesity.”
A person with metabolically healthy obesity has a body mass index (BMI) of over 30, but they do not have metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome consists of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol.
Some studies suggest that up to 35% of people with obesity do not have metabolic syndrome. In other words, they have metabolically healthy obesity.
However, some experts believe that this is misleading, as it gives the impression that obesity can be healthy.
Other experts believe that the state of metabolically healthy obesity is a passing one. In time, the person will start to develop symptoms of metabolic syndrome.
Obesity also increases the risk of other conditions, including respiratory problems and some types of cancer.
This article looks at why some people with obesity do not have metabolic syndrome, as well as what this means for their health.
There are no guidelines for defining metabolically healthy obesity.
There are guidelines to define metabolic syndrome, however. Doctor will diagnose metabolic syndrome if a person has three of the following factors:
- a waist that measures over 40 inches in men or over 35 inches in women
- fat, or triglyceride, levels in the blood of 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) or above
- levels of high density lipoprotein, or “good,” cholesterol below 40 mg/dl in men or below 50 mg/dl in women
- fasting blood glucose of 100 mg/dl or above
- blood pressure of 130/85 millimeters of mercury or above
If a person has obesity but fewer than three of these factors, they have metabolically healthy obesity. However, if the person does not lose weight, the symptoms of metabolic syndrome may start to appear.
Metabolic syndrome can also affect people without obesity, but obesity is a major risk factor.
The exact link between obesity and these conditions is unclear, but inflammation appears to play a role. Experts have found that when a person with obesity loses weight, inflammation levels also tend to fall.
What treatments can help a person manage obesity?
Health professionals do not yet know why some people with obesity do not develop metabolic syndrome. Genetic factors may play a role.
In 2013, a study found that people with metabolically healthy obesity were more likely to have lower levels of inflammation than those with obesity and metabolic syndrome.
A rodent study from 2016 found that some proteins might protect the body from the harmful effects of obesity. More research is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these mechanisms in humans, however.
Some experts have suggested that the type of fat a person has and where it collects in the body may make a difference. Fat that collects around the lower trunk may be less harmful than fat that accumulates around the abdomen, for example.
Another team found that the bodies of metabolically healthy people burn fat more effectively than those of people with metabolic issues such as type 2 diabetes.
Lifestyle habits
Obesity usually results from a high energy intake and a sedentary lifestyle. That said, some people with obesity are physically active and make healthful food choices.
One study suggests that some healthful lifestyle habits can improve a person’s outlook regardless of their BMI.
These habits include:
- not smoking
- limiting alcohol intake
- getting 30 minutes of exercise daily
- eating five or more servings of vegetables and fruits daily
Making healthful lifestyle choices can benefit people regardless of whether they have obesity. Also, people with obesity who follow these guidelines may have a better outcome than people with obesity who do not.
Sleep quality
In 2017, researchers revealed a difference in sleep quality between people with metabolically healthy obesity and those with metabolic syndrome.
Specifically, they found that women with metabolically healthy obesity had regular sleep disturbances, but they did not have problems with sleep duration or overall sleep quality. Those with metabolic syndrome did experience these problems.
These findings do not prove that sleep quality is a factor for metabolically healthy obesity, though it may perhaps be an indicator.
Many people with obesity have sleep apnea, which affects their breathing while they sleep. Learn more here.
Other factors
A study from 2016 found that people with metabolically healthy obesity tended to be younger, female, more likely to exercise, and less likely to smoke or drink heavily.