title: Body habitus in heart failure: understanding the mechanisms and clinical significance of the obesity paradox.
abstract: The prevalence of obesity among adults and children worldwide has reached epic proportions and has become a major independent risk factor for the development of heart failure (HF), in addition to a contributor of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The implications of obesity in the development of HF involve adverse effects on cardiac structure and function. Despite all of this, in the setting of chronic HF, excess body mass is associated with improved clinical outcomes, demonstrating the presence of an obesity paradox. In this review, we will discuss the gender differences, global application, potential mechanisms and role of interventions based on fitness and purposeful weight loss as potential therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, John Ochsner Heart & Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-University of Queensland School of Medicine, 1514 Jefferson Highway, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA.
authors.forename: Parham
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parto
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, John Ochsner Heart & Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-University of Queensland School of Medicine, 1514 Jefferson Highway, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA.
authors.forename: Carl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lavie
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Department of Kinesiology & Nutrition & Integrative Physiology Laboratory, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical & Health Information Sciences, College of Applied Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Cardiology, University Clinical Center Serbia, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dejana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Popovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, John Ochsner Heart & Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-University of Queensland School of Medicine, 1514 Jefferson Highway, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA.
authors.forename: Hector O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Ventura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: BMI; HTN; body habitus; cardiorespiratory fitness; gender; heart failure; obesity; obesity paradox; weight loss