Obesity poses many dangers to the heart and circulatory system.
Damage in the Blood Vessels. Changes in body fat as people age, particularly increasing abdominal fat, have specifically been associated with stiffness in the aorta, the major artery leading from the heart. Studies are finding higher levels of a factor called C-reactive protein (CRP) in people with obesity and abdominal fat. CRP is now considered to be a marker for inflammation and damage in the arteries. (Losing weight reduces CRP levels.)
High Blood Pressure. Hypertension is the health problem most commonly associated with obesity, and the greater the weight, the greater the risk. Hypertension carries serious risks for stroke, heart attack, and heart failure. The link between obesity and high blood pressure is complex and may reflect interactions of genetic, demographic, and biologic factors. Many studies have reported that modest weight loss is beneficial for reducing existing blood pressure. [See In-Depth Report #14, High blood pressure.]
Heart Failure. An important 2002 study reported that obesity might account for 11% of heart failure cases in men and 14% in women. This link existed independently of other risk factors, such as high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and diabetes, which are also associated with obesity. The biologic mechanisms involved in obesity that lead specifically to heart failure are not clear. [See In-Depth Report #13, Heart failure.]
Unhealthy Cholesterol Levels and Lipid Levels. The effect of obesity on cholesterol levels is complex. Although obesity does not appear to be strongly associated with overall cholesterol levels, among obese individuals triglyceride levels are usually high while HDL (the so-called "good" cholesterol) levels tend to be low, both risk factors for heart disease. [See In-Depth Report #23 , Cholesterol.]
 | Click the icon to see an image of coronary artery disease. |
Stroke. Obesity is also associated with a higher risk for stroke. [See In-Depth Report #45, Stroke.]
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