Divergent ectopic fat distribution and adipokine/hepatokine levels characterize the metabolically healthy overweight/obesity phenotype
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The metabolically healthy overweight/obesity (MHOO) phenotype combines excess adiposity with preserved cardiometabolic health. We compared specific fat depots, circulating adipokine and hepatokine levels, and fecal microbiota composition between 384 adults classified as MHOO ( n = 99) or metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity (MUOO; n = 285). Magnetic resonance imaging was used to quantify visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volume, hepatic and pancreatic fat fractions, abdominal and mid-thigh intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Despite similar whole-body fat mass, MHOO showed lower VAT volume, hepatic and pancreatic fat fractions, abdominal IMAT volume, abdominal VAT-to-SAT ratio, and mid-thigh IMAT area, together with higher mid-thigh SAT area. MHOO also had higher adiponectin and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and lower retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) levels. Fecal microbiota composition was similar between groups. VAT volume and hepatic fat fraction were the strongest discriminative features, supporting fat distribution rather than total adiposity as a key feature of preserved metabolic health.
Source: iScience
Authors: Antonio Clavero-Jimeno, Juan J. Martin-Olmedo, Alessandro Gatti, Adrián Cortés-Martín, Alba Camacho-Cardenosa, Lucas Jurado-Fasoli, Manuel Dote-Montero, Marcos Molina-Fernandez, Alejandro López-Vázquez, Amaya Lopez-Pascual, Matías A. Ávila, Estrella Petrina, Ana Zugasti, Iñigo Urdiain, Mara Concepción, Rafael Cabeza, José L. Martín-Rodríguez, Idoia Labayen, Jonatan R. Ruiz
Institutions: Universidad de Granada, University of Copenhagen, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Pavia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Navarre Institute of Health Research, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada, Universidad de Navarra, Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA)
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,240
Funders: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Consejería de Transformación Económica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades, European Commission, Universidad de Granada, Universidad Pública de Navarra, Gobierno de Navarra, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Consejería de Salud y Consumo, Junta de Andalucía, Ministerio de Universidades, NextGenerationEU
Awards: G103507813, G1105844351, G1157341841, G1335649614, G1428725115, G1622782223, G1732210561, G1799927510, G2391649924, G318412399, Efectos de la restricción horaria de la alimentación y el ejercicio físico sobre la masa, calidad y función del músculo esquelético en mujeres postmenopáusicas con obesidad: descrifrando los mecanismos, G4045293325, G410571670, G4212894969, G451917667, G4645013448, G491712853, G4925834383, G4966566422, G4993905653, G5195188938, G5404395142, G5539308778, G5635532810, G5828287858, G5967599077, G624877701, G6282158680, G6384254145, G6520718613, G66099019, G6829621523, G7046272376, G7100567164, G7613173340, G7710455917, G7805626310, G7863371703, G8118709007, G8497050386, G9000352068, G9000845933, G9000847149, G9000847301, G929308097
OpenAlex ID: W7214905937