Genetics of metabolic obesity phenotypes

Although obesity is an important risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases, not every individual with obesity shows metabolic complications, this phenotype is called metabolically healthy obesity (MHO). Several studies suggest that the distribution of body fat and its accumulation in ectopic depots, rather than overall adiposity, are important factors in defining the metabolic health of individuals with obesity. The identification of genes involved in fat accumulation, particularly in the expansion of subcutaneous adipose tissue, has contributed to better understanding the physiological mechanisms related to metabolic health. Notably, some Latin American populations have an increased susceptibility to the development of metabolic complications. In this review, we discuss the differences in the prevalence of MHO among populations, including Latin Americans, as well as some of the main genetic findings related to healthy and unhealthy metabolic phenotypes of obesity.