Epidemic Proportions
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions. As of 2003, an estimated 64 million Americans were obese, and more than 136 million were overweight.2 A third of US women are obese.2 Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI)  30, and overweight as a BMI 25.2
Obesity and Cardiac Risk
- Obesity is an independent risk factor for CAD.34
- Obesity has traditionally been measured by BMI, but research has shown that waist circumference (ie, abdominal obesity) is associated with greater cardiac risk and may be more important than BMI.36,38 (See Fat Distribution and Heart Disease in Women.)
- Obesity can affect the utility of exercise testing in women because of decreased exercise capacity and the inability to reach an adequate heart rate.79
Physical Inactivity
A lack of physical activity is an important contributing factor to the obesity problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control, less than a third of US women (aged 18 years) engaged in any regular physical activity, and many are considered "physically inactive" (Figure 9).80
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Figure 8. Percentage of Diabetic and Nondiabetic Patients Requiring Pharmacologic Stress46
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Diabetes
Obesity
Metabolic Syndrome
Race/Ethnicity
Defining Risk in Women
Exercise Capacity in Women
C-Reactive Protein
Atrial Fibrillation
Heart Failure
Fat Distribution and Heart Disease in Women
Fitness Levels
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Aging
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