Heart disease and death risks were similar among metabolically unhealthy and healthy overweight and obese people.

Overweight and Obesity are often associated with several different health problems later in life. But unhealthy people of normal weight could still be at risk. A recent review of studies found that metabolically unhealthy people of normal weight, overweight people and obese people were all more at risk for death and heart disease than their healthy counterparts of each weight category. The researchers concluded that there was long-term risk for health issues associated with increased weight regardless of metabolic health. “Discuss healthy weight management with your doctor.” The lead author of this study was Ravi Retnakaran, MD, from the Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes at the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Dr. Retnakaran and colleagues reviewed eight past studies published between 1950 and June 5, 2013.

There were a total of 61,386 adult participants who were categorized as either normal weight, overweight or obese. In addition, the studies had to determine whether or not the participants were metabolically healthy or unhealthy in each category. Metabolic health was based on the criteria for having metabolic syndrome — a group of conditions that happen together and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. These conditions include high blood pressure, high levels of bloodsugar, large waist size because of excess fat and abnormal levels of cholesterol.