Abstract
Adipose tissue has been shown to be a pivotal organ in the aging process and in the determination of life span. Owing to the rising prevalence of obesity, especially at younger ages, a potential decline in life expectancy is expected in the U.S. in the 21st century.
Obesity, and mainly its abdominal form, is considered a major risk factor not only for type 2 diabetes, lipid disorders, and hypertension but also for coronary heart disease and certain cancers. In epidemiological studies, BMI, an indicator of relative weight for height (weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) is frequently used as a surrogate for assessment of excess body fat.
This review summarizes manifestations of the obesity paradox in different diseases such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, hypertension, peripheral artery disease, stroke, thromboembolism, kidney and pulmonary diseases, and type 2 diabetes. Obese individuals may also demonstrate better outcome in response to certain therapeutic procedures.
The obesity paradox was mostly reported in elderly.