title: The metabolically healthy but obese phenotype in African Americans.
abstract: Obesity has become one of the leading public health concerns in the United States and worldwide. While obesity is associated with the metabolic syndrome, some obese individuals do not possess the constellation of the metabolic abnormalities and are referred to as metabolically healthy but obese (MHO) persons. Limited data exist on the prevalence and characteristics of the MHO in African Americans. The authors studied 126 obese African Americans and defined the MHO phenotype as an individual with a body mass index ≥30 kg/m(2) , high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥40 mg/dL, absence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and absence of arterial hypertension. The correlates of the MHO phenotype with anthropometrical and metabolic indices were examined, as well as the effect of age on these correlates. Results showed that 36 (28.5%) of the individuals were identified with the MHO phenotype. Waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were significantly lower (P<.05) in MHO than in non-MHO patients. While there were significant lower levels of low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides in MHO among patients younger than 40 years, the significance was lost among patients 40 years or older. This study indicates that increased WC and WHR may be early premetabolic syndrome markers in obese individuals and should warrant aggressive risk factor reduction therapy to prevent future development of related cardiovascular conditions.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Howard University College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Rabia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cherqaoui
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Howard University College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Thaslim A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Kassim
authors.affiliation: Design, Biostatistics & Population Studies, Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical & Translational Research, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kwagyan
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Howard University College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Clyde
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Howard University College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nunlee-Bland
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Howard University College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Muluemebet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ketete
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Howard University College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Shichen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Howard University College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Otelio S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Randall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000235:genetics*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL