It is currently postulated that not all obese individuals have to be considered as pathological subjects. From 10% to 20% of obese people studied do not show the metabolic changes common in obese patients. The term 芦healthy obese禄 has been coined to refer to these patients and differentiate them from the larger and more common group of pathological obese subjects. However, the definition of 芦healthy obese禄 is not clear. Use of 芦healthy obese禄 as a synonym for obese without metabolic complications is risky. Clinical markers such as insulin resistance are used to identify this pathology. It is not clear that healthy obese subjects have lower morbidity and mortality than pathologically obese patients. According to some authors, healthy obese would represent an early stage in evolution towards pathological obesity. There is no agreement as to the need to treat healthy obese subjects.