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Fitness, Fatness, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Outcomes

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Abstract

There is a high prevalence of both overweight and obesity in the United States and other developed countries. There is strong evidence of the association between higher levels of body mass index and other measures of body fatness and negative health consequences. However, there is also strong evidence to support that low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity contribute to these same negative health consequences. Thus, there is significant interest in the independent and combined effects of fitness and fatness on health-related outcomes that include cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality, as well as all-cause mortality. A review of the current evidence suggests that there are both independent and combined effects of fitness and fatness on these outcomes. Health care providers should promote both weight loss and increased fitness, resulting from physical activity, to optimize the health benefits for patients at increased risk for chronic diseases.

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Disclosure

John M. Jakicic is on the Scientific Advisory Committee of Free & Clear. He has been a paid consultant for UPMC Health Plan, BodyMedia, Inc., and Proctor & Gamble and has received honoraria from Jenny Craig. His institution has received a grant from BodyMedia, Inc., and a gift from Google.

Anne E. Mishler reports no potential conflict of interest relevant to this article. Renee Rogers reports no potential conflict of interest relevant to this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health and Physical Activity, Physical Activity and Weight Management Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, 2100 Wharton Street, Birmingham Towers, Suite 600, Pittsburgh, PA, 15203, USA

    John M. Jakicic, Anne E. Mishler & Renee Rogers

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  1. John M. Jakicic
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  2. Anne E. Mishler
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  3. Renee Rogers
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Correspondence to John M. Jakicic.

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Jakicic, J.M., Mishler, A.E. & Rogers, R. Fitness, Fatness, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Outcomes. Curr Cardiovasc Risk Rep 5, 113–119 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12170-011-0158-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12170-011-0158-4

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