May 17, 2024

Fat but Fit? Expert Weighs In on “Metabolically Healthy Obesity”

At the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting, Prof. Matthias Blüher will discus the principle of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO). A certain portion of obese people do not reveal common metabolic problems, the term “metabolically healthy” might be misleading.
Metabolically healthy weight problems may be a deceptive term, as even individuals within this category face elevated health risks. Fat storage patterns and fat habits play key functions in figuring out these threats, underscoring the significance of weight management.
A session at this years Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes will check out the newest information on the idea of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO)– more commonly understood by the public as healthy however fat. Professor Matthias Blüher, University of Leipzig, Leipzig and Helmholtz Center Munich, Germany will explain how we specify MHO and ask if it can truly be described as healthy.
” Some 15-20% of individuals coping with weight problems have none of the metabolic problems we associate with the condition, namely abnormal blood sugar level control and blood fats, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and other indications of heart disease,” discusses Prof. Blüher.

Gender Differences and Fat Storage
Quotes suggest a different prevalence of MHO in ladies and guys, with women living with obesity most likely to have MHO (7-28%) than men (2-19%). At the other end of the spectrum, around half of individuals dealing with obesity have at least 2 issues. For a provided overall body fat mass, individuals with MHO have lower liver fat mass (than expected for the BMI and overall fat mass).
Prof. Blüher will go over that is how the adipose tissue behaves in people with obesity, rather than their body-mass index, which will identify whether or not their obesity is MHO. In people with adipocytes (fat-storing cells) that are of a normal size, those individuals are less likely to show the issues of obesity– whereas in people with enlarged adipocytes and swollen adipose tissue, these cells are more likely to show traits such as insulin resistance that result in metabolic problems.
And the manner in which we store fat is likely type in whether weight problems can be explained as MHO. “When individuals with weight problems have fat stored viscerally, or internally around their organs (such as in the liver), the information show that these individuals are far more most likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who store fat more equally around their body,” says Prof. Blüher.
Repercussions of Adipose Tissue Dysfunction
He goes on to describe that in people with adipose tissue dysfunction, this can lead to harmed tissue, fibrosis, secretion of adipogenic and proinflammatory particles that consequently contribute to end-organ damage. As an example, adipokines (fat-released hormonal agents) may act straight on cells of the vascular system and result in atherosclerosis. In addition, metabolites such as fats may hinder the function of liver or insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
The Health Risks of MHO
On the crucial concern as to whether or not MHO can truly be described as healthy, Prof. Blüher will describe that a number of studies show that compared with individuals of regular weight with no metabolic comorbidities, individuals living with obesity with no metabolic comorbidities have a 50% increased risk of coronary heart disease. “So there is still a recurring increased danger for those people dealing with weight problems, even with what we would call metabolically healthy obesity,” he says.
In conclusion, there are individuals with obesity who do not display cardio-metabolic complications at a particular point in time. Weight management and suggestions for weight loss are still essential for individuals living with metabolically healthy weight problems.”

Quotes recommend a various prevalence of MHO in males and females, with ladies living with obesity more most likely to have MHO (7-28%) than men (2-19%). At the other end of the spectrum, around half of individuals living with weight problems have at least 2 complications. In conclusion, there are people with weight problems who do not exhibit cardio-metabolic issues at a particular point in time. In the past, the diagnosis of MHO frequently led to a low top priority for obesity treatment. Weight management and recommendations for weight loss are still important for individuals living with metabolically healthy obesity.”