Obesity and Heart Failure — Risk Factor or Mechanism?

As has been noted repeatedly by expert panels and the lay press, nearly 60 percent of the adult population of the United States is overweight or obese, with substantial resulting morbidity and mortality.1 Since obesity increases the risk of the most frequent causes of heart failure, an association between these conditions is to be expected. Indeed, an increased risk of heart failure has previously been noted in the Framingham Heart Study and in other cohort studies.24 However, controversy has persisted with regard to whether obesity is an independent risk factor for heart failure or even coronary heart disease. For . . .