Obese but Healthy: Understanding the Exceptions

Heart disease and diabetes are more common in people who are obese. But not all obese people have the same risk, a new medical journal article points out. Increasing evidence shows that some people who are obese have normal cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. Doctors say they are metabolically healthy, though obese. These people may be fit even though they are overweight. They may have a relatively small waist size compared with their overall size. And they may be less likely to have long-lasting inflammation in the body. The authors of the new article say a better definition of the condition is needed. This might help doctors target treatments to those who need them most. For example, healthy obese people might be better off avoiding weight-loss surgery, they say. Doctors still don’t know why some obese people don’t suffer the same health problems as others.