Background: Although young women are presumed to have low cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and mortality, the mortality benefits secondary to ischemic heart disease have plateaued among young women, <50 years. Materials and Methods: Women, 18-49 years (n = 595) among all participants (n = 1,045) in the Columbia University Heart Health in Action Study, were assessed for CVD risk burden, that is, presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, current tobacco use, hyperlipidemia, physical inactivity, and/or obesity. Anthropometrics (height, weight, waist circumference, and body mass index [BMI]); demographics; socioeconomic status, CVD risk factors, body size perception; knowledge and awareness of CV disease; and attitudes toward lifestyle perception were determined. Results: Most were Hispanic (64.0%); non-Hispanic white (20.0%); or non-Hispanic black (8.7%), age = 35.9 -8.0 years. BMI was categorized as obese ( ‡30 kg/m