Cardiac, vascular and metabolic characteristics in young women with abdominal obesity: Comparison and intervention

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women worldwide. Despite this, CVD in women is under-researched. Overweight/obesity, particularly abdominal obesity, together other established risk factors, increases the chance of developing CVD. Previous research has also shown that young women with overweight/obesity have cardiac dysfunction that may predispose them to future CVD events, suggesting that early detection and prevention of underlying CVD risk factors may be the best public health approach. Lifestyle interventions incorporating exercise, diet and behavioural therapy are currently recommended as the cornerstone to reduce CVD risk factors in individuals with overweight/obesity.