There are enough serious health problems associated with obesity that most people with a body mass index over 30 will have heard from their doctors that they need to lose weight.

But here's the thing they may not have

heard. Some percentage of people with obesity, between 6 and 60%, depending on the definition of it,

are metabolically healthy with blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, and cholesterol levels,

similar to those of many people whose BMI is considered ideal. From KERA in Dallas, this is think. I'm Chris Boyd.

We also know that some folks who fall within the recommended guidelines for BMI have less than

ideal, cholesterol, blood pressure, and insulin sensitivity. So scientists are looking deeper into

the relationship between body size, fat, and metabolic health, hoping to

learn why some people defy the odds and what any of this means for long-term health for everyone.

As a journalist, Christy Ashwondin, is fascinated by unanswered questions.

She is host and producer of a Scientific American podcast about uncertainty in science called

Uncertain. And she wrote about the

mystery of metabolically healthy obesity in the Scientific American article headlined,

People who are fat and healthy may hold keys to understanding obesity. Christy, welcome to think.

Thanks for having me. Just for some background. Will you start by explaining the constellation of obesity-associated health problems known as

metabolic syndrome?

Like what are some of the effects that have been correlated to an obese BMI?

Sure.

There are things like blood pressure, so high blood pressure, insulin insensitivity, which can lead to type 2 diabetes.

There's heart disease, various other things.

Obesity has also been linked to dementia, cancer, and some other health issues as well.

Do we know the order in which this might play out? Like, does metabolic

...