title: Obesity and cardiovascular risk: the new public health problem of worldwide proportions.
abstract: Obesity could be considered a new global health epidemic above all others, especially when it is characterized by central fat distribution. This is illustrated by dramatic provisional data, indicating a continuous increase in the trend of overweight and obese individuals in several countries, including the USA and countries in Europe. Several epidemiological, pathophysiological and clinical studies clearly indicate that two of the major independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease or events are being overweight, and obesity. Accordingly, weight loss and prevention of weight gain has to be considered one of the most important strategies to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Palermo, Piazza delle Cliniche no.2, 90127 Palermo, Italy. rosarioscaglione@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scaglione
authors.forename: Christiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Argano
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Di Chiara
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Licata
mesh_terms: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D014943:Global Health; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents