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Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
05:10

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report

Published on: May 30, 2025

Obesity and cardiovascular disease: risk factor, paradox, and impact of weight loss

Carl J Lavie1, Richard V Milani, Hector O Ventura

  • 1Cardiac Rehabilitation, Exercise Laboratories, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70121-2483, USA. clavie@ochsner.org

Journal of the American College of Cardiology
|May 23, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Obesity significantly impacts cardiovascular diseases, yet overweight individuals with existing conditions show a better prognosis, a phenomenon known as the obesity paradox. This review explores obesity

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Obesity is a global epidemic linked to numerous comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
  • Obesity adversely affects cardiovascular risk factors, structure, and function, increasing the risk of heart failure, coronary heart disease, and sudden cardiac death.
  • Despite these risks, an obesity paradox suggests better outcomes for overweight/obese patients with established cardiovascular disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the adverse effects of obesity on cardiovascular disease risk factors and pathogenesis.
  • To review the obesity paradox and explore potential explanations for observed outcomes.
  • To discuss the role of weight reduction in preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies examining obesity, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and patient outcomes.
  • Analysis of data related to the obesity paradox in conditions such as hypertension, heart failure, and coronary heart disease.
  • Synthesis of current evidence on weight reduction strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment.

Main Results:

  • Obesity exacerbates cardiovascular disease risk factors and contributes to the development of various cardiovascular conditions.
  • The obesity paradox is consistently observed across multiple cardiovascular diseases, indicating better prognoses for overweight/obese individuals.
  • Explanations for the paradox remain under investigation, with factors like inflammation, metabolic profiles, and treatment responses being explored.

Conclusions:

  • Obesity poses significant risks for cardiovascular health, yet paradoxically offers a survival advantage in certain established cardiovascular diseases.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind the obesity paradox and its clinical implications.
  • The role and efficacy of weight reduction interventions in cardiovascular disease prevention and management require careful consideration.

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