Rimonabant in the management of cardiovascular risk

The current obesity pandemic is recognised as a major factor contributing to the global burden of disease. Indeed, the rising tide of obesity in the USA and Europe has been shown to contribute directly to high levels of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. Increases in body weight leading to central obesity are associated with pathological changes in blood lipid profiles, predisposing subjects to atherosclerosis, and with metabolic changes in glycaemic control that contribute to cardiovascular damage. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.