The relationship between overweight, obesity and cardiovascular disease A literature review prepared for the National Heart Foundation of Australia

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is Australia's national health and welfare statistics and information agency. The Institute's mission is better health and wellbeing for Australians through better health and welfare statistics and information. The National Heart Foundation of Australia is a charity and the leading organisation in the fight against cardiovascular disease (heart, stroke and blood vessel disease) in Australia. The Foundation's mission is to reduce suffering and death from heart, stroke and blood vessel disease in Australia. Preface The National Heart Foundation of Australia commissioned the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to undertake the literature review contained in this publication to bring together the diverse material dealing with the impact of excess weight on cardiovascular disease. A range of policy responses to the growing prevalence of excess weight in Australia are now being developed and it is therefore important that the evidence for the relationship between excess weight and cardiovascular disease is well understood. The literature review covers a large amount of peer-reviewed research, and stands as a tribute to the expertise and commitment of the researchers involved. While the review was in progress, there was substantial national publicity and debate in the print and electonic media over the health impacts of excess weight. In that context, this thorough review will assist and even stimulate further informed debate.