Morbidly “Healthy” Obese Are Not Metabolically Healthy but Less Metabolically Imbalanced Than Those with Type 2 Diabetes or Dyslipidemia

Background We have investigated the differences between metabolically “healthy” morbidly obese patients and those with comorbidities. Materials and Methods Thirty-two morbidly obese patients were divided by the absence (“healthy”: DM−DL−) or presence of comorbidities (dyslipidemic: DM−DL+, or dyslipidemic and with type 2 diabetes: DM+DL+). We have studied various plasma parameters and gene expression adipose tissue, before and after gastric bypass. Results The group DM+DL+ tends to have lower values than the other two groups for anthropometric parameters. Regarding the satiety parameters, only leptin ( p = 0.0024) showed a significant increase with comorbidities. Lipid parameters showed significant differences among groups, except for phospholipids and NEFA. For insulin resistance parameters, only glucose ( p < 0.0001) was higher in DM+DL+ patients, but not insulin or homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The gene expression of adiponectin, insulin receptor (INSR) and glucose receptor-4 (GLUT4), in the subcutaneous fat, decreased in all groups vs. a non-obese control. Interleukin-6 (IL6) and the inhibitor of plasminogen activator type 1 (PAI-1) genes decreased only in DM−DL+ and DM+DL+, but not in “healthy” patients. Leptin increased in all groups vs. the non-obese control. The visceral fat from DM+DL+ patients showed a sharp decrease in adiponectin, GLUT4, IL6 and PAI-1. All parameters mentioned above improved very significantly by surgery, independent of the occurrence of comorbidities. Conclusions The morbidly obese “healthy” individual is not really metabolically healthy, but morbidly obese individuals with diabetes and dyslipidemia are more metabolically imbalanced.