Long-term follow-up studies have indicated that obesity is an independent predictor of
cardiovascular risk in both genders. Increased arterial stiffness, as reflected by an increased
pulse wave velocity, is significantly and independently associated with higher risk for
cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that
individuals with obesity are likely to have an increase in aortic stiffness, independent of BP
level, ethnicity, and age. The pathophysiologic mechanisms that link abdominal adiposity to …