Obesity and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of Social and Biobehavioral Pathways
In the United States, two out of every five adults have obesity. The obesity epidemic is a significant public health concern and a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), contributing to its development through a complex interplay of social, biologic and behavioral mech...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://account.journal.houstonmethodist.org/index.php/up-j-mdbcj/article/view/1528 |
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| author | Izza Shahid Faiza Zakaria Ryan Chang Umair Javed Zahir Malik Amin Sadeer Al-Kindi Khurram Nasir Zulqarnain Javed |
| author_facet | Izza Shahid Faiza Zakaria Ryan Chang Umair Javed Zahir Malik Amin Sadeer Al-Kindi Khurram Nasir Zulqarnain Javed |
| author_sort | Izza Shahid |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the United States, two out of every five adults have obesity. The obesity epidemic is a significant public health concern and a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), contributing to its development through a complex interplay of social, biologic and behavioral mechanisms. It exacerbates traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes, while visceral and epicardial fat deposition promotes inflammation and insulin resistance, thereby accelerating atherosclerosis. Beyond traditional pathophysiologic pathways, social determinants of health (SDoH) significantly contribute to obesity-related disparities, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities. SDoH factors such as socioeconomic status, access to health care, and limited availability of nutritious food and safe spaces for physical activity not only increase obesity prevalence but also exacerbate its psychological toll, including stress and anxiety, which further elevate cardiovascular risk. Environmental factors, such as limited green spaces and air pollution, further promote obesogenic behaviors and worsen cardiovascular outcomes. In this review, we explore the association between obesity and ASCVD and key mediating pathways including the role of SDoH and environmental risk factors. We also discuss potential strategies—including patient education, community engagement to address SDoH, and establishment of dedicated cardiometabolic and cardiovascular prevention clinics—to mitigate the population burden of obesity and improve downstream cardiovascular outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6efd845a56ac4f05a73c9e6259abfb5e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1947-6108 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-6efd845a56ac4f05a73c9e6259abfb5e2025-08-20T03:25:30ZengHouston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular CenterMethodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal1947-61082025-02-01212233410.14797/mdcvj.15281506Obesity and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of Social and Biobehavioral PathwaysIzza Shahid0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3975-1197Faiza Zakaria1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1067-264XRyan Chang2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9707-5823Umair Javed3Zahir Malik Amin4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9135-0254Sadeer Al-Kindi5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1122-7695Khurram Nasir6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5376-2269Zulqarnain Javed7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4137-9198Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, TXDow Medical College, KarachiBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, TXUniversity of Health Sciences, LahoreJohn Sealy School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TXHouston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston, TXHouston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston, TXHouston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston, TXIn the United States, two out of every five adults have obesity. The obesity epidemic is a significant public health concern and a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), contributing to its development through a complex interplay of social, biologic and behavioral mechanisms. It exacerbates traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes, while visceral and epicardial fat deposition promotes inflammation and insulin resistance, thereby accelerating atherosclerosis. Beyond traditional pathophysiologic pathways, social determinants of health (SDoH) significantly contribute to obesity-related disparities, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities. SDoH factors such as socioeconomic status, access to health care, and limited availability of nutritious food and safe spaces for physical activity not only increase obesity prevalence but also exacerbate its psychological toll, including stress and anxiety, which further elevate cardiovascular risk. Environmental factors, such as limited green spaces and air pollution, further promote obesogenic behaviors and worsen cardiovascular outcomes. In this review, we explore the association between obesity and ASCVD and key mediating pathways including the role of SDoH and environmental risk factors. We also discuss potential strategies—including patient education, community engagement to address SDoH, and establishment of dedicated cardiometabolic and cardiovascular prevention clinics—to mitigate the population burden of obesity and improve downstream cardiovascular outcomes.https://account.journal.houstonmethodist.org/index.php/up-j-mdbcj/article/view/1528obesityascvdcardiometabolicsdohdisparitiesatherosclerotic cardiovascular disease |
| spellingShingle | Izza Shahid Faiza Zakaria Ryan Chang Umair Javed Zahir Malik Amin Sadeer Al-Kindi Khurram Nasir Zulqarnain Javed Obesity and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of Social and Biobehavioral Pathways Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal obesity ascvd cardiometabolic sdoh disparities atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease |
| title | Obesity and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of Social and Biobehavioral Pathways |
| title_full | Obesity and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of Social and Biobehavioral Pathways |
| title_fullStr | Obesity and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of Social and Biobehavioral Pathways |
| title_full_unstemmed | Obesity and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of Social and Biobehavioral Pathways |
| title_short | Obesity and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of Social and Biobehavioral Pathways |
| title_sort | obesity and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease a review of social and biobehavioral pathways |
| topic | obesity ascvd cardiometabolic sdoh disparities atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease |
| url | https://account.journal.houstonmethodist.org/index.php/up-j-mdbcj/article/view/1528 |
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