There is a strong correlation between obesity and heart disease. Study after study shows a strong connection between being overweight or obese and the development of cardiovascular disease. Not only is an increasing risk found as weight increases, but it has also been discovered that the distribution of the excess fat also plays a role in promoting heart disease.
Recent findings conclude that belly fat is the most dangerous when it comes to cardiovascular health although the mechanism for this is not entirely clear. The importance of understanding the links between heart disease and being overweight are more critical than ever as an estimated two-thirds of American adults are overweight.
Obesity increases the risk for high blood pressure which damages arteries and leads to atherosclerosis. Additionally, hypertension can cause damage to the kidneys and direct damage to the heart. There is even a link between obesity, sleep apnea and heart disease. Many health care professionals fear that the epidemic rise in obesity rates will lead to a huge increase in heart disease in the United States and much of the Western world.
One long known factor in heart health and obesity is that the increased volume of blood means the heart must work harder and harder to adequately pump blood through the body leading to eventual heart failure. But what hasn’t been known until recently is the link between belly fat and heart disease. One possible cause of the increased heart health risk is that an accumulation of belly fat can increase the risk for Type 2 diabetes, a known cause of heart disease. Other ideas are that belly fat actually secretes damaging hormones that cause cardiovascular problems.
And if that weren’t enough, recent research is also showing an increase in congestive heart failure. This happens when the left ventrical of the heart becomes enlarged as it is overworked. Stress to this part of the heart is associated with high blood pressure but is seen in obese people without hypertension. The end result of congestive heart disease is heart failure.
All of these studies are discoveries are quite frightening, but something can be done about it! Health professionals are recommending that adults maintain a Body Mass Index BMI of less than 25. You can figure your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in meters. Not as tricky as it sounds with metric unit conversion tools and calculators everywhere! So make it a goal to reach this BMI and maintain your weight at or below this level. Also keep in mind that the BMI alone says nothing about the distribution of fat on the body. Belly fat is the most dangerous as it attaches to internal organs and secretes hormones that can damage the body.
Losing weight is really quite simple if you remember the one simple rule that weight loss only occurs when calorie output exceeds calorie intake. There are no magic bullets, it takes managing your diet and increasing exercise. And do you know what? Eating a diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats and fish and getting regular exercise has definitely been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease! Even small amounts of weight loss can reap heart-health benefits.
To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885 anytime
Skype: Monique371
