Weight loss and endothelial function in obesity

Endothelial dysfunction, a pathologic feature of obesity, predicts the occurrence of cardiovascular disease and is felt to mediate the increased cardiovascular risk associated with a number of classical and nonclassical risk factors. Modest weight loss alone failed to improve endothelial function in obesity, while weight loss plus orlistat improved vascular function, at least in part by improving endothelium-dependent vasodilation. This latter effect is statistically correlated with an improvement in LDL cholesterol.