Obesity and Risk for Heart Disease

From Geriatrics Student Dana Ross Pharm.D.(c)
Palm Beach Atlantic University School of Pharmacy

Researchers found that obese patients were two times more likely to develop heart disease and related conditions than their normal-weight counterparts. Researchers looked at patients for 5 years in the United States in office visits. They monitored disease progression and onset of obese patients versus normal weight individuals by chart reviews for certain disease states. These disease states included diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.

The study looked at patients BMI (Body Mass Index) to classify their weight category.
Investigators claim to have confirmed a correlation between obesity and heart disease related diseases. They found patients with obesity to be at greater than double the risk for developing chronic disease states, specifically relating to coronary, or heart conditions and health.

These findings are important for the medical community because obesity is such a growing health problem in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control says obesity is found in greater than 33% of American adults! This will open the publics eyes about obesity and its health risks and hopefully spark some changes.