Obesity is associated with larger arterial diameters in Caucasian and African-American young adults.

R isk factors for larger arterial diameters and enhanced wall thickening have been insufficiently assessed in young adults, an age-group where preventive measures have the greatest impact. Larger vessel diameter and wall thickening may represent underlying vascular remodeling, a dynamic process by which the vascular system attempts to compensate for vascular damage (1). The purpose of the current study was to examine the association between obesity and arterial diameter and wall thickness in healthy Caucasian and African-American young adults. Associations were examined in both the muscular peripheral arteries and the more elastic central arteries.