Cardiovascular risk in the Asia-Pacific region from a nutrition and metabolic point of view: visceral obesity

The association between abdominal obesity and an increased risk of cardiova scular disease (CVD) is now well recognized. Both problems are becoming mor e prevalent within the Asia-Pacific region, but there are substantial diffe rences within and between countries. The strength of the temporal relations hip between obesity and CVD in the region has led to the suggestion that ob esity is the driving force behind the continuing epidemic of CVD. This rais es that question as to whether there are any special aspects to the Asia-Pa cific epidemic of obesity and resultant problems as a result of genetic or developmental factors. It is clear that the experience of central obesity a nd its cardiovascular consequences in western society cannot be directly tr ansposed to all countries in the region. Issues such as smoking, alcohol us e and inactivity may carry different implications. The Asia-Pacific region has started from low baseline prevalence of both obesity and CVD, but this implies that the potential for major problems in the future is particularly severe.