[What is the evolution of metabolically normal obesity?]

A subgroup of obese subjects which could be protected from the cardiometabolic complications of obesity is described in the literature as "metabolically normal obese subjects". However, the lack of a joint definition of metabolic normality makes the available data difficult to interpret and to compare. A recent analysis of more than 1200 subjects in a prospective study showed that 21% of obese metabolically normal subjects at baseline developed the metabolic syndrome after three years. The obese subjects who remained metabolically normal showed, at three years, significantly higher values of cardiometabolic parameters as compared to subjects with normal body weight. In conclusion, the obese subjects even without any metabolic abnormality should benefit of a closer medical monitoring as well as a regular follow-up to avoid further weight gain.