New Study Finds that No “Healthy Obesity” Exists for Women

A new study has found that obese women who’ve been healthy for decades could still be on the path toward heart issues. Even obese women who are free of disease like hypertension and diabetes still have a heightened risk for future cardiovascular disease compared to healthy women of a normal weight.

This study analyzed data on more than 90,000 women in the U.S., and participants were followed from 1980-2010. Over an average of 24 years, about 6,300 women developed heart disease, including heart attacks and strokes. It was found that metabolically healthy obese women had a 39% higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

The findings were published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology on May 30, 2018.