Abstract

Both obesity and atrial fibrillation (AF), which both contribute to an increase in the incidence of cardiovascular disease events, are reaching epidemic proportions. Cardiovascular hemodynamics and cardiac structure and function are negatively impacted by obesity, as is the prevalence of AF, which is partly linked to electroanatomical remodeling in obese patients. However, a number of studies, including those on AF, have shown that overweight and obese patients with these disorders have a better prognosis than thinner patients with the same severity of cardiovascular disease and AF. The authors of this paper talk about special issues with AF in obese patients as well as the evidence that, despite the obesity paradox, weight loss, increased cardiorespiratory fitness, and physical activity/exercise training can improve the prognosis of obese patients with AF.