The role of abdominal obesity and weight gain since adolescence in early atherosclerosis.

The distribution of body fat appears to be an important determinant as patients with abdominal obesity are at greatest cardiovascular risk. Also abdominal obesity is more predictive of coronary risk than simple body mass. On the other hand, weight gain after age 18 increases cardiovascular risk even in patients with normal body mass index. We believe that providing a healthy lifestyle, including dietary and physical activity modification, especially in early adolescence may play an essential part in the battle against atherosclerosis.