Association between Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease: Is There One?

Abstract

Obesity is an epidemic in the United States, and affects around onethird of the population in the United States. Diagnosis of obesity is generally based on body mass index (BMI), which estimates total body fat content. BMI is calculated by dividing body weight (in kilograms) over body surface area (in meters squared). Based on the standards established by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, normal weight is defined as BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2. Patients with BMI of 25 to 29.9 kg/m2 are considered to be overweight, while those with BMI greater than 30 are classified as being obese. The obese category is further divided into 3 categories: grade 1 (BMI 30 to 34.9 kg/m2), grade 2 (BMI 35 to 39.9 kg/m2), and grade 3 (BMI of 40 or higher) [1]. However, the association between obesity and cardiovascular (CV) disease is not clearly established, and being underweight may even increase the risk of heart disease.