“The obesity paradox” in disease – is the protective effect of obesity true?
Although obesity and the associated metabolic syndrome negatively impact on health outcomes, a paradoxical relationship between obesity and mortality has been reported for specific patient populations – the “obesity paradox”. However, underlying mechanisms remain unclear and several possible expla...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW)
2015-12-01
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| Series: | Swiss Medical Weekly |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/2123 |
| _version_ | 1811194158712356864 |
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| author | Nina Braun Filomena Gomes Philipp Schütz |
| author_facet | Nina Braun Filomena Gomes Philipp Schütz |
| author_sort | Nina Braun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Although obesity and the associated metabolic syndrome negatively impact on health outcomes, a paradoxical relationship between obesity and mortality has been reported for specific patient populations – the “obesity paradox”. However, underlying mechanisms remain unclear and several possible explanations are being discussed. First, a true protective effect of obesity is possible, mediated through differences in the immune response and more metabolic reserves. Although there is a growing body of evidence supporting this hypothesis, the influence of obesity on immune function is complex and not completely understood. Second, a statistical bias is possible, owing to confounding, selection bias, performance bias and measurement bias of most observational studies reporting the obesity paradox. Within this article, we summarise current concepts regarding the underlying pathophysiology and possible explanation for the obesity paradox, and discuss open questions such as whether age is an effect modifier on the relationship of obesity and mortality.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:21:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-735262dcb1be41b794c43a8fbd59e647 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-3997 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:21:14Z |
| publishDate | 2015-12-01 |
| publisher | SMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Swiss Medical Weekly |
| spelling | doaj.art-735262dcb1be41b794c43a8fbd59e6472022-12-22T03:55:42ZengSMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW)Swiss Medical Weekly1424-39972015-12-01145515210.4414/smw.2015.14265“The obesity paradox” in disease – is the protective effect of obesity true?Nina BraunFilomena GomesPhilipp Schütz Although obesity and the associated metabolic syndrome negatively impact on health outcomes, a paradoxical relationship between obesity and mortality has been reported for specific patient populations – the “obesity paradox”. However, underlying mechanisms remain unclear and several possible explanations are being discussed. First, a true protective effect of obesity is possible, mediated through differences in the immune response and more metabolic reserves. Although there is a growing body of evidence supporting this hypothesis, the influence of obesity on immune function is complex and not completely understood. Second, a statistical bias is possible, owing to confounding, selection bias, performance bias and measurement bias of most observational studies reporting the obesity paradox. Within this article, we summarise current concepts regarding the underlying pathophysiology and possible explanation for the obesity paradox, and discuss open questions such as whether age is an effect modifier on the relationship of obesity and mortality. https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/2123pneumoniainflammationobesityBiomarkerobesity paradox |
| spellingShingle | Nina Braun Filomena Gomes Philipp Schütz “The obesity paradox” in disease – is the protective effect of obesity true? Swiss Medical Weekly pneumonia inflammation obesity Biomarker obesity paradox |
| title | “The obesity paradox” in disease – is the protective effect of obesity true? |
| title_full | “The obesity paradox” in disease – is the protective effect of obesity true? |
| title_fullStr | “The obesity paradox” in disease – is the protective effect of obesity true? |
| title_full_unstemmed | “The obesity paradox” in disease – is the protective effect of obesity true? |
| title_short | “The obesity paradox” in disease – is the protective effect of obesity true? |
| title_sort | the obesity paradox in disease is the protective effect of obesity true |
| topic | pneumonia inflammation obesity Biomarker obesity paradox |
| url | https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/2123 |
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