The Obesity Paradox in Heart Failure: What Is Real Obesity in Heart Failure?

The obesity is a conventional cardiovascular risk factor. Obesity has detrimental effects on heart failure, but has been found to be paradoxically associated with improved survival. The obesity paradox remains controversial in the literatures. There are various underlying mechanisms to explain the obesity paradox in heart failure. Epidemiologic, biochemical, animal studies revealed this unexpected phenomenon, which was described as an obesity paradox. BMI does not provide information body composition and cardiopulmonary fitness status, which can be related to obesity paradox. Still, the obesity paradox is controversial; therefore, intentional weight gaining may not be recommended. Many researches related to obesity paradox have been introduced and further research needs to be done in the future.