Obesity and cardiovascular disease: the hippocrates paradox?

Clearly, obesity is a problem that is reaching epidemic proportions in the U.S., with nearly 70% of adults being classified as overweight or obese compared with fewer than 25% 40 years ago (2,3). Although too often obesity is viewed as a cosmetic problem as opposed to a major health concern, there is no question that obesity places a “heavy” burden on the entire cardiovascular system, contributing to considerable overall morbidity and mortality, a fact that was even recognized by Hippocrates centuries ago. In fact, recent evidence indicates that obesity is associated with more morbidity than smoking, alcoholism, and poverty, and if current trends continue will account for over 300,000 deaths annually in the U.S., thus overtaking cigarette abuse as the leading preventable cause of death (2,4,5).