[Obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes: cardiovascular implications and therapy].

Obesity, metabolic syndrome and type-2 diabetes mellitus are three interrelated conditions that share a number of pathophysiological mechanisms and that are frequently observed to lead, in succession, to cardiovascular complications. The fact that their prevalence is increasing alarmingly should prompt all healthcare professionals urgently to implement measures to prevent these complications. The most effective, though also the least adopted, are those related to lifestyle modification. Drug treatment targeted at controlling risk factors (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia, and thrombophilia), metabolic abnormalities, and excess weight is also necessary.