INTRODUCTION
eMedicine is delighted to offer this free CME activity based on presentations given at an American Heart Association satellite symposium in Dallas, Texas, on November 15, 2005. The Discovery Institute of Medical Education designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Persons who attended the symposium are NOT eligible to receive credit for completing this enduring material. Please note that the course is accredited only for physicians (MD, DO, or equivalent). All other participants receive a certificate of completion.

Already a major health issue in the United States, the impact of obesity has also become an issue worthy of worldwide concern. Intra-abdominal adiposity plays a central role in a constellation of morbidities, including CVD, diabetes, and related metabolic and vascular disorders (eg, dyslipidemia, hypertension). Recent studies implicate the endocannabinoid (EC) system as a significant contributor to metabolic homeostasis. EC receptors have been detected centrally, peripherally, and in endocrine and related tissues. EC blockade is thought to mitigate the effects of an overstimulated EC system characterized by excess visceral fat and the ensuing morbidities of CVD, diabetes, and metabolic disorders. This course explains the EC system and discusses the potential for multirisk management through its regulation.

Participants in this online activity will learn about (1) the EC system and its role in metabolic homeostasis; (2) its impact on key constituents of cardiovascular and metabolic risk status, including high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and insulin, in the presence of excess abdominal adiposity; and (3) its neuromodulation through the administration of CB₁ blockade as a risk reduction measure.

This activity is composed of the following audio/slide presentations: Welcome and Program Introduction (Antonio M. Gotto, Jr, MD, DPhil) The Endocannabinoid System: A Target for Reducing Visceral Obesity and Subsequent Cardiovascular Risk (Vincenzo Di Marzo, PhD) HDL Metabolism: State-of-the-Art Insights (H. Bryan Brewer, Jr, MD) Insulin Resistance and Its Impact on Cardiometabolic Risk (Henry N. Ginsberg, MD) Endocannabinoid Blockade: The RIO Program—In-Depth Discussion (Luc Van Gaal, MD, PhD) Clinical Implications of the RIO Data (Christie M. Ballantyne, MD) Panel Discussion/Q&A (Moderator Antonio M. Gotto, Jr, MD, DPhil, with faculty panelists Christie M. Ballantyne, MD; H. Bryan Brewer, Jr, MD; Vincenzo Di Marzo, PhD; Henry N. Ginsberg, MD; and Luc Van Gaal, MD, PhD)