Obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) >30.0, approximately doubles
the risk of stroke. Obesity strains the heart, and predisposes people to
other risk factors like high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, hypertension,
low HDL cholesterol levels, and diabetes.
Populations
at special risk
The prevalence of obesity is over 20% for adult non-Hispanic whites, African
Americans, Mexican Americans and American Indians, both men and women.
