Can You Be Obese and Healthy?

Can you have an obese BMI and be healthy? Is there anything called healthy overweight? The simple answer is that it's complicated.

Although the diagnostic criterion remains controversial to date, the "Metabolically Healthy Obese" (MHO) do exist. These people are morbidly obese with a BMI >30, but they do not suffer from metabolic diseases such as type-2 diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia (1).

What Does It Mean to Be Healthy?

Generally, you are said to be healthy if you are free from illness and injury. There are individuals who fall in this healthy bracket and yet are obese. While a BMI of 25.9-29 is considered overweight, a BMI >30 is obese.

The diagnostic criterion here is actually limited to cardiovascular risk factors only. The healthy obese may not be healthy anymore when other non-metabolic conditions are considered, such as:

• Orthopedic problems
• Pulmonary complications
• Joint health
• Fitness levels
• Nutrition levels
• Sleep patterns
• Stamina and athletic competence
• Mental health
• Social connections

Even if you are overweight and athletic, you may still be plagued by many of the issues mentioned here. Running as an obese person is possible, but obesity can cause shortness of breath, cardiovascular issues, and a host of other problems that can severely impact your performance and safety.

How Does Weight Affect Your Health?

The health risks of being overweight or obese are numerous (2). They include:

General Medical Conditions

• Insulin resistance
• Hypertension due to obesity
• Type-2 diabetes
• PCOS
• Gallbladder disease
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
• Osteoarthritis
• Sleep apnea
• Infertility
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Acid reflux
• Difficulty in physical functioning
• Stroke
• Cancer

Heart-Specific Conditions:

• High LDL cholesterol
• Low HDL cholesterol
• High levels of triglycerides
• High inflammation
• High blood pressure

"Healthy overweight" is a misnomer. You may presently be in the safe zone, but you are still at high risk of disease. The scale can tip anytime.

Health not only means physical health; it encompasses emotional health as well. Talk to your doctor, take guidance, and take measures to lose weight gradually and be fit for a healthier life. To safeguard your heart health and improve your quality of life, you need to take action at the earliest possible instance.

Medical Disclaimer

The information provided by DarioHealth Corp. programs is general in nature and is not meant to replace the advice or care you get from your doctor or other health care professional.

Resources

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4924161/
2. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/effects/index.html

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