Assessment of Risk Status

The patient's risk status should be assessed by determining the degree of overweight or obesity based on BMI, the presence of abdominal obesity based on waist circumference, and the presence of concomitant CVD risk factors or comorbidities. Some obesity-associated diseases and risk factors place patients in a very high risk category for subsequent mortality. These diseases will require aggressive modification of risk factors in addition to their own clinical management. Other obesity-associated diseases are less lethal, but still require appropriate clinical therapy. Obesity also has an aggravating influence on several cardiovascular risk factors. Identifying these risk factors is required as a guide to the intensity of clinical intervention.