A client with a BMI of 35 kg/m2 is at greatest risk of developing which condition?

• A. Hypertension
• B. Hyperlipidemia
• C. Atherosclerosis
• D. Type 2 diabetes

Answer: (C)

Excess body weight, especially at a BMI of 35, sets up a vascular environment that directly promotes atherosclerosis. Obesity drives a proinflammatory state and a dyslipidemic profile—higher triglycerides and LDL, lower HDL—and insulin resistance. This combination injures the endothelium, encourages macrophages to take up lipids, and leads to the formation of fatty streaks that develop into plaque. As plaques accumulate and arteries stiffen, atherosclerosis emerges as the underlying vascular change linking obesity to cardiovascular disease. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and type 2 diabetes often occur with obesity, but the process of plaque buildup in arteries is the most direct consequence that explains the increased risk for atherosclerosis.