Revisión bibliográfica sobre definición, criterios diagnósticos y tratamiento de obesos metabólicamente sanos

Abstract

A special group of obese or overweight people who lack or do not present metabolic alterations have been described or referred to as metabolically healthy obese. However, individuals may be free of obesity-related complications, but may not be completely exempt from developing cardiometabolic disorders. Obesity is associated with a group of disorders that are related to type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia that together are called the metabolic syndrome. Obesity has increased in adults and drastically in children and adolescents whose prevalence may reach 20% by 2025. The prevalence of metabolically healthy obese people ranges from 6% to 60% or 75%, and varies according to sociodemographic factors, such as ethnic origin and age, therefore, the importance of characterizing metabolically healthy individuals arises. There are criteria that are going to be obtained based on an outpatient clinical setting, however others need more sophisticated tests. There are several criteria for diagnosis such as: fasting glucose, HDL cholesterol, oral glucose tolerance test, blood pressure. Lifestyle factors are influenced in these individuals, it is important to mention the cardiovascular risk that they may present. The recommended firstline treatment for metabolically healthy obese patients is weight loss; bariatric surgery is currently being discussed as an effective weight loss strategy.