Obesity paradox and cardiovascular risk

Abstract

Obesity, traditionally defined as excess body fat, is a non-communicable chronic inflammatory disease highly prevalent in both sexes, in all age groups, and in different regions globally, which is frequently associated with an increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. During the last decades, evidence has been growing that suggests the existence of a phenomenon that is currently known as the “obesity paradox”, which exposes that individuals who are overweight or obese have a lower risk of mortality from all causes, an effect that extends to those patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), in whom mortality from CV causes is also decreased.