The Korean journal of internal medicine

The Korean Association of Internal Medicine (대한내과학회)
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Metabolically healthy obesity: a friend or foe?

  • Jung, Chang Hee (Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Woo Je (Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Song, Kee-Ho (Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine)
  • Received : 2016.08.05
  • Accepted : 2017.04.27
  • Published : 2017.07.01
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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.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), Asan Institute of Life Science

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