Excess fat having a health-advancing influence is an oxymoron to almost everyone. But in some rare cases, abdominal obesity may not be a Type 2 diabetes risk factor at all due to specific genetic predispositions, according to a new study.
What Is Metabolically Healthy Obesity?
Scientists dug into the rare phenomenon of metabolically healthy obesity. The term refers to a condition where a person is obese based on their body mass index but does not exhibit the typical metabolic abnormalities often associated with obesity, including insulin resistance. They have relatively normal metabolic markers, suggesting a lower risk of obesity-related health complications like diabetes.“There is a growing body of evidence for metabolically healthy obesity," researcher Mete Civelik, who holds a doctorate in bioengineering and is an associate professor at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine, said in a press statement. “In our study, we found a genetic link that may explain how this occurs in certain individuals.”
