Obesity has always been linked with varying health problems
including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. However,
being fat isn’t always an indication of being unhealthy. This
was the finding of a new study by the University of South
Carolina. “Obesity alone is not a major risk factor” Researchers
followed some 43,000 obese people in the US and analysed their
general health, lifestyle, and weight. More than a third of the
participants were obese. Of these, there were 18,500 individuals
who were metabolically healthy. Contrary to the popular belief,
they found that being overweight alone is not actually a major
health risk. Metabolically healthy individuals involved in the
study didn’t have diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol,
and were generally healthy as compared with other obese people.
They also had lower risk of dying from cancer or cardiovascular
disease, like those who have normal weight. According to the
study lead author, Dr Francisco Ortega, who now works at the
University of Gran