Objective. Obesity is a global epidemic with profound cardiovascular disease (CVD)
complications. Obese women are particularly vulnerable to CVD, suffering higher rates of
CVD compared to non-obese females. Diastolic dysfunction is the earliest manifestation of
CVD in obese women but remains poorly understood with no evidence-based therapies. We
have shown early diastolic dysfunction in obesity is associated with oxidative stress and
myocardial fibrosis. Recent evidence suggests exercise may increase levels of the
antioxidant heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Accordingly, we hypothesized that diastolic
dysfunction in female mice consuming a western diet (WD) could be prevented by daily
volitional exercise with reductions in oxidative stress, myocardial fibrosis and maintenance
of myocardial HO-1 levels