Abdominal fat accumulation has what effect on vascular resistance and cardiac workload?

• A. Increase resistance and increase workload
• B. Decrease resistance and decrease workload
• C. No change
• D. Increase resistance and decrease workload

Answer: (A)

Abdominal fat accumulation tends to raise both vascular resistance and the heart’s workload. Central obesity is linked to higher systemic vascular resistance through increased sympathetic activity, activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and factors like endothelin that promote vasoconstriction and arterial stiffening. At the same time, it increases blood volume and venous return, raising preload, and it often comes with conditions such as sleep apnea that boost sympathetic drive and blood pressure. The combination of more resistance in the vessels and a heavier work demand on the heart means the heart must pump against greater afterload and handle a higher cardiac output demand, increasing myocardial oxygen consumption. In short, abdominal fat raises both vascular resistance and cardiac workload.