Carl "Chip" Lavie, MD, author of the original book titled, "The Obesity Paradox" explains the paradox of metabolic health in the obese, how it wanes, and an essential element to maintain it.
The obesity paradox refers to the situation wherein, despite the known and marked ability of obesity to worsen nearly all cardiovsascular (CV) risk factors, particularly hypertension (HTN), type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia, and to increase the prevalance of CVD including HTN, heart failure, coronary heart disease, studies have shown that persons who are overweight or at least mildly obese who have stable CVD have better short- and moderate-term prognosis than do normal weight patients with the same CVD.
Dr Lavie explains the paradox, potential underlying mechanisms, and the critial role of cardiorespiratory fitness to maintain the balance.
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Carl J Lavie, MD
Professor of Medicine,
Medical Director, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention
Director, Stress Testing Laboratory, John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute,
Ochsner Clinical School - The University of Queensland School of Medicine