Obesity and stroke

Obesity is thought to be a major risk factor in stroke. Its effects may have been underestimated because the standard multivariate analysis examines whether obesity has predictive power after controlling for the effects of variables such as blood pressure and plasma lipids. Yet these may be the mechanisms through which it exerts its influence.

Obesity and smoking together account for about 60% of strokes in men up to 65 years.

Reference:

1. Royal College of Physicians; Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network; Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. National clinical guideline for stroke for the United Kingdom and Ireland. April 2023 [internet publication].