Increasing prevalence of obesity and clustered cardiometabolic risk: can treatment of the underlying cause reverse the trends?
Changing demographics in the United States indicate that obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes are increasing in prevalence. Current interventions for the treatment of the metabolic syndrome to prevent cardiovascular disease are usually directed at individual risk factors instead of the root cause, which is commonly visceral adiposity. Existing pharmacologic therapies to treat obesity provide modest benefit on weight loss but are limited by their tolerability and by concerns about safety. More effective management of patients with metabolic syndrome to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular disease will require more effective therapies that target the underlying cause.
Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Methodist DeBakey Heart Center, Section of Atherosclerosis and Vascular Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. cmb@bcm.tmc.edu
Christie M
CM
Ballantyne
D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D001067:Appetite Depressants