Abdominal obesity is a risk factor in cardiovascular disease

Obesity is a disease of increasing incidence and prevalence world wide, defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 (weight Kg/height squared). In recent years body fat distribution has begun to be seen as the element most related to cardiovascular risk, taking hip waist index greater than 0.90 in males and 0.80 in females, as parameters for defining central abdominal obesity. Obesity, in particular abdominal obesity, is currently considered an important quantitative and modifiable cardiovascular risk factor, while adipose tissue is considered an endocrine organ that through the liberation of cytokines (adipocytokines) and hormones regulates the energy and calorie balance, affecting cardiovascular risk.