The Definition of Metabolically Healthy Obesity.

Yang,  Hae Kyung; Lee,  Seung Hwan

doi:2014.15.1.17

J Korean Diabetes > Volume 15(1); 2014 > Article

Focused Issue

The Journal of Korean Diabetes 2014;15(1):17-20.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4093/jkd.2014.15.1.17 Published online March 31, 2014.

대사적으로 건강한 비만의 진단기준

양혜경, 이승환

The Definition of Metabolically Healthy Obesity.

Hae Kyung Yang, Seung Hwan Lee

Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St.Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. hwanx2@catholic.ac.kr

Abstract

Metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) is a term indicating a subgroup of obese individuals who demonstrate normal to high levels of insulin sensitivity, a lower level of visceral adiposity and more favorable cardiovascular risk profiles. Although identifying MHO might have clinical significance in terms of management strategies, there is no consensus regardingthe criteria used for defining this subgroup. Several different definitions have been used for MHO, and this has resulted in a wide range of prevalence and low agreement between classifications. The analyses of clinical characteristics and the metabolic outcomes also showed controversial findings because of the different definitions used. Developing a standardized criteria that is easily applicable and that accurately accounts for risk factors for predicting the development of type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular outcomes is of clinical value and will broaden our understanding regarding the clinical importance of MHO.

Key Words: Body mass index, Diagnosis, Insulin resistance, Obesity