Relation of duration of morbid obesity to left ventricular mass, systolic function, and diastolic filling, and effect of weight loss.

Longer duration of morbid obesity is associated with higher LV mass, poorer LV systolic function, and greater impairment of LV diastolic filling. Weight loss-induced decreases in LV mass and improvements in LV systolic function and diastolic filling are due in part to favorable alterations in LV loading conditions.