Lifestyle of metabolically healthy obese individuals.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to find factors associated with metabolic syndrome in obese individuals and thus offer guidance to stay metabolically healthy if obese.

METHODS

A cardiovascular screening programme performed in Finland during the years 2005-2007, identified 901 obese white individuals. Of them, 269 (30%) were metabolically healthy according to the Harmonization criteria of metabolic syndrome.

RESULTS

In multivariate logistic regression analysis, male sex [odds ratio (OR) 1.44 (95% CI 1.01-2.07)], living alone [OR 1.77 (95% CI 1.18-2.65)], physical inactivity [OR 3.73 (95% CI 1.24-11.24)], and use of betablockers [OR 2.63 (95% CI 1.75-3.95)] were associated with metabolic syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

Even mild or occasional physical exercise is beneficial to health in obese individuals. Betablockers may not be the antihypertensive agents of choice when treating obese hypertensive individuals.