The distinction of metabolically ‘healthy’ from ‘unhealthy’ obese individuals

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The prevalence and severity of obesity are dramatically increasing throughout the world. Obesity causes a decline in life expectancy due to its associated metabolic and cardiovascular comorbid disorders. Therefore, it will become more important to distinguish obese individuals at high risk for obesity-related metabolic diseases from those who are metabolically 'healthy'. This review focuses on recent evidence suggesting that normal adipose tissue function contributes to the healthy obese phenotype. RECENT FINDINGS: The majority of individuals with obesity develop insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, gout, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. However, approximately 10-25% of…