New research claims to have busted the myth that people dealing with obesity cannot be healthy at the same time, BBC News reported.

Excess fat can cause its own health risks even with normal levels of cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. The study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, examined more than 1,000 previous studies involving 60,000 people.

Among people whose heart was monitored for at least ten years, the researchers from Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto found no increase in health when a person did not lose excess weight. They found that when people appear to be metabolically healthy, there is still an underlying risk factor with being overweight.

"This really casts doubt on the existence of healthy obesity," study lead author Dr. Ravi Retnakaran told BBC News. "This data is suggesting that both patients who are obese who are metabolically unhealthy and patients who are obese who are metabolically healthy are both at increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease, such that benign obesity may indeed be a myth."

The British Heart Foundation agreed with the study's findings and said obesity is known to heighten the risk of heart disease, even in the absence of other health conditions.

"So, even if your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels are normal, being obese can still put your heart at risk," said Doireann Maddock, a senior cardiac nurse.

She said the lifestyle changes needed to fight obesity are usually activities any person should adopt to stay healthy, regardless of BMI. While watching weight is important, such basic changes will also help a person maintain health rather than simply regaining it.

"As well as watching your weight, if you stop smoking, get regular physical activity and keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels at a healthy level, you can make a real difference in reducing your risk of heart disease," Maddock said. "If you are concerned about your weight and want to know more about the changes you should make, visit your GP to talk it through."