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Shaun Sabico

Associate Professor

Associate Professor and Deputy Director

كلية العلوم
Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, Biochemistry Department, College of Science, KSU
المنشورات
مقال فى مجلة
2025

Exploring inflammation and adipose tissue dysfunction in metabolically healthy versus unhealthy obesity among Arab adults

Background

Obesity is a heterogeneous condition. While Metabolically Healthy Obesity (MHO) is often considered to carry a lower risk of metabolic complications than Metabolically Unhealthy Obesity (MUO), findings on their differences remain inconsistent. This study examines for the first time the metabolic differences across obesity phenotypes in Saudi adults, addressing a literature gap in understudied populations with high obesity prevalence.

Materials and methods

This cross-sectional study included 450 Saudi adults classified as MHO, MUO, or metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW) based on BMI (≥ 30 kg/m²) and the presence of ≥ 3 metabolic abnormalities per National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria. Anthropometric, metabolic, and inflammatory parameters were assessed. Age- and sex-adjusted logistic regression analyses were used to compare phenotypes.

Results

MUO individuals showed significantly higher adiposity indices, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and inflammatory markers compared to MHO individuals (p-values < 0.001). MHO individuals also differed significantly from MHNW individuals. Adiponectin levels were comparable across groups; however, the Adiponectin/Leptin ratio (adpn/lep) was lowest in the MUO group, indicating adipose tissue dysfunction. MUO individuals had increased odds of elevated HOMA-IR (OR = 5.76, p < 0.001) and CRP (OR = 2.64, p = 0.005) compared to MHO. While insulin resistance did not differ significantly between MHO and MHNW, MHO participants had higher odds of a low adpn/lep ratio (OR = 2.87, p < 0.005).

Conclusion

MUO individuals exhibited greater metabolic risk than MHO, with marked insulin resistance and inflammation. However, the presence of adipokine imbalance and elevated inflammatory markers in MHO suggests that ‘metabolic health’ in obesity may be relative rather than absolute.

اسم الناشر
Springer Nature
مدينة النشر
Berlin, Germany
رقم المجلد
17
مجلة/صحيفة
Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome
الصفحات
244
مزيد من المنشورات
publications

Background

بواسطة Wani K, Kumar B, Amer OE, Al-Daghri NM, Sabico S
2025
تم النشر فى:
Springer Nature
publications

Background: Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21) and omentin-1 have been recognized as potent antidiabetic agents with potential hepatoprotective activity.

بواسطة Alenazi MM, Sabico S, Alnaami AM, Wani K, Hussain SD, Al-Daghri NM
2025
تم النشر فى:
Springer Nature
publications

This study investigates the 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in different metabolic obesity phenotypes in Saudi adults. A cohort of 5460 adults (aged 40-79) was…

بواسطة Wani K, Kumar B, Al-Daghri NM, Sabico S
2025
تم النشر فى:
Wiley