Previously viewed as a static picture of cholesterol deposits, we’ve changed the paradigm of atherosclerosis--the narrowing or hardening of arteries--to reflect an inflammatory disease. Biomarkers such as high C-reactive protein levels and high serum amyloid A levels, which indicate an increased risk for coronary artery disease, have been associated with increased BMI. In postmenopausal women in particular, the percent prevalence of elevated C-reactive protein dramatically relates to weight: a BMI of less than 25 shows elevated C-reactive protein levels of less than 20 percent; at a BMI of 30 or greater the percentage of patients with an elevated C-reactive protein reaches nearly 50 percent. Serum amyloid A also shows a very striking relationship.