It s been widely observed that obese adults (people with a BMI of 30 or more) are not necessarily unhealthy, nor even at high risk of adverse health events, as defined by factors such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure and other metabolic risk factors. But do they stay healthy as they get older? A new report suggests that many do not.
Led by Joshua A. Bell MSc, investigators examined data from the Whitehall II study of British government workers. They defined a healthy obese person as one with a BMI of at least 30, and less than 2 of the following characteristics: low HDL ( good ) cholesterol; high blood pressure or use of medication for it; high fasting plasma glucose levels or use of medication for it; insulin resistance; and high levels of blood triglycerides. There were over 2500 participants in the study, aged from, 39 to 62, and 75 percent were male. Of these, 178 were obese, and 66 of those (37 percent) were characterized as healthy obese.
By 5 years into the study, a third of these healthy obese had become unhealthy by the above criteria. After 10, 15, and 20 years 41, 35, and 52 percent became unhealthy respectively. The researchers found healthy obese adults were nearly 8 times more likely to progress to an unhealthy obese state after 20 years than healthy nonobese adults.
These data strongly indicate that even when obese persons have few or no cardiovascular or metabolic risk factors, there s no guarantee that they will remain that way as they age, commented ACSH s Dr. Ruth Kava. She continued Thus it continues to be crucial to both prevent obesity and help obese individuals attain a lower BMI.