Metabolically healthy obesity was associated with a similarly adverse cardiometabolic and inflammatory profile as metabolically abnormal obesity, with >30% of MHO patients exhibiting IGT or T2D.
Cross-Sectional (n=699)
Does metabolically healthy obesity have a more favorable cardiometabolic and inflammatory profile compared to metabolically abnormal obesity?
Metabolically healthy obesity and metabolically abnormal obesity share a similarly adverse cardiometabolic and inflammatory profile, challenging the concept that metabolically healthy obesity is a benign condition.
OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that individuals with the condition known as metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) may not have the same increased risk for the development of metabolic abnormalities as their non-metabolically healthy counterparts. However, the validity of this concept has recently been challenged, since it may not translate into lower morbidity and mortality. The aim of the current study was to compare the cardiometabolic/inflammatory profile and the prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in patients categorized as having MHO or metabolically abnormal obesity (MAO). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis to compare the cardiometabolic/inflammatory profile of 222 MHO and 222 MAO patients (62% women) matched by age, including 255 lean subjects as reference (cohort 1). In a second cohort, we analyzed the adipokine profile and the expression of genes involved in inflammation and extracellular matrix remodeling in visceral adipose tissue (VAT; n = 82) and liver (n = 55). RESULTS: The cardiometabolic and inflammatory profiles (CRP, fibrinogen, uric acid, leukocyte count, and hepatic enzymes) were similarly increased in MHO and MAO in both cohorts. Moreover, above 30%of patients classified as MHO according to fasting plasma glucose exhibited IGT or T2D corrected. The profile of classic (leptin, adiponectin, resistin) as well as novel (serum amyloid A and matrix metallopeptidase 9) adipokines was almost identical in MHO and MAO groups in cohort 2. Expression of genes involved in inflammation and tissue remodeling in VAT and liver showed a similar alteration pattern in MHO and MAO individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The current study provides evidence for the existence of a comparable adverse cardiometabolic profile in MHO and MAO patients; thus the MHO concept should be applied with caution. A better identification of the obesity phenotypes and a more precise diagnosis are needed for improving the management of obese individuals.
Gómez‐Ambrosi et al. (Fri,) conducted a cross-sectional in Obesity (n=699). Metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) vs. Metabolically abnormal obesity (MAO) and lean subjects was evaluated on Cardiometabolic/inflammatory profile and prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes. Metabolically healthy obesity was associated with a similarly adverse cardiometabolic and inflammatory profile as metabolically abnormal obesity, with >30% of MHO patients exhibiting IGT or T2D.