3 Key Takeaways
Plain English Summary- 01Core Finding
Some are considered to have metabolically healthy obesity, with normal insulin sensitivity in conjunction with normal fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance, plasma lipid profile and intrahepatic triglyceride content.
- 02Study Evidence
Study design used a clinical evidence review protocol to track clinical outcomes.
- 03Practical Meaning
Benefits and risks vary by individual health history — discuss with a healthcare professional.
What This Means for You
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. 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.
The Discovery
Multi-organ-system insulin resistance is the key pathogenic driver of obesity-related metabolic complications and diseases, such as atherogenic dyslipidemia, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and type 2 diabetes. However, there is considerable heterogeneity in insulin sensitivity among people with obesity. Some are considered to have metabolically healthy obesity, with normal insulin sensitivity in conjunction with normal fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance, plasma lipid profile and intrahepatic triglyceride content. 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.
How It Works, Simply
This infectious disease research focuses on insulin. Researchers evaluated it using a standard-of-care clinical practice · Clinical evidence review at the clinical practice stage of medical research.
3 Key Takeaways
Clinical Takeaways- 01Core Finding
Some are considered to have metabolically healthy obesity, with normal insulin sensitivity in conjunction with normal fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance, plasma lipid profile and intrahepatic triglyceride content.
- 02Study Evidence
Study design used a clinical evidence review protocol to track clinical outcomes.
- 03Practical Meaning
Benefits and risks vary by individual health history — discuss with a healthcare professional.
Biological Mechanism & Study Design
Study Design & Cohort
Clinical evidence review
Standard-of-care clinical practice · Clinical evidence review · Clinical Practice
Biological Pathway & Modality
Insulin
Intervention: Metabolic heterogeneity of obesity
Experimental Findings & Endpoints
Multi-organ-system insulin resistance is the key pathogenic driver of obesity-related metabolic complications and diseases, such as atherogenic dyslipidemia, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and type 2 diabetes.
However, there is considerable heterogeneity in insulin sensitivity among people with obesity. Some are considered to have metabolically healthy obesity, with normal insulin sensitivity in conjunction with normal fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance, plasma lipid profile and intrahepatic triglyceride content.
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.
Clinical Translation & Practice Context
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.
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.
The Bottom Line · Clinical Pearl
“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.”
Published in Nature Medicine · Current Stage: Clinical Practice