A study carried out by the Dominican Society of Cardiology revealed that 16.4% of Dominicans are obese, 21% suffer from high cholesterol levels, 5.3% suffer from diabetes and 20% suffer from high blood pressure. The "Estudio de factores de riesgos cardiovasculares en la Rep?blica Dominicana", sponsored by the Dominican Society of Cardiology researched the cardiovascular risk factors of the population. The arrival of fast food chains has contributed to the increase in heart risk problems in the DR.
