Cardiopulmonary Aspects of Obesity in Women

This review discusses the cardiopulmonary aspects of obesity in nonpregnant women. The effects of obesity on pulmonary diffusing capacity and pulmonary gas exchange are related to the waist-to-hip ratio. Obese women have an increased risk for heart failure compared with normal-weight women, a risk that progressively worsens with increasing body mass index. They also have poor cardiac accommodation and possess a lower oxygen pulse at peak exercise. Cardiac output, heart rate, and total blood volume are higher in obese women whereas ejection fraction is lower compared with normal-weight women; substantial weight loss normalizes these parameters.