Researchers have discovered biological indicators that help explain why some obese people develop chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, and others do not. The researchers looked specifically at the body fat of people with metabolic syndrome—a condition characterized by increased blood pressure, high fasting blood-sugar levels, excess abdominal fat, and abnormal cholesterol levels. They found the fat cells released biomarkers associated with insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, conditions often leading to diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
