The research that matters, without the jargon.

Metabolic heterogeneity of obesity

A better understanding of the differences between metabolically divergent groups and the physiological responses to weight loss can help identify the factors responsible for the link between excess adiposity and metabolic dysfunction and disease. In this Review, we discuss metabolic differences at the cellular, organ-system and systemic levels between people with metabolically healthy and metabolically unhealthy obesity; we also discuss heterogeneity in the therapeutic effects of weight reduction.