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Obesity paradox: new facts as an example of reverse epidemiology

Abstract



R.A. Fursov, O.B. Ospanov

Medical University of Astana, Kazakhstan

Obesity is associated with most health problems, including some cancers. The combination of obesity with metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and other pathologies increases the risk of death. However, in recent years, there have been publications showing that people with obesity are more likely to survive than people with normal and underweight. This phenomenon has been called the «obesity paradox».
This article presents materials from the world medical literature on the obesity paradox. Information resources accumulated in traditional libraries and automated library information systems were used to select scientific sources and analyze materials. The search was carried out through the databases of international organizations that are engaged in compiling scientific reviews of medicine (Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, HealthStar, CrossRef and others).
According to recent studies, it is not the presence of obesity and high body mass index itself that is important, but the distribution of fat deposits, structure and volume of visceral fat. The shape and dynamics of the waist size increase (the so-called body shape trajectory) can be predictors of complications and sudden death in obese patients. Moreover, the paradox of obesity consists in higher survival rates among patients with obesity and cardiovascular complications who have undergone cardiac surgery in hospital. It has been suggested that a group of obese people have a higher metabolic reserve, which can serve as protection for chronic conditions such as coronary heart disease, etc.
Many scientists are sceptical of the paradoxical results associated with obesity, as these results are contrary to generally accepted concepts and views, and therefore raise some doubts.

Keywords: obesity, body mass index, obesity paradox, morbidity, mortality risk, reverse epidemiology.
For citation: Fursov R.A., Ospanov O.B. Obesity paradox: new facts as an example of reverse epidemiology. RMJ. Medical Review. 2019;1(I):16–20.
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