A major study found that being obese does increase your heart disease risk despite studies that have suggested the contrary. A British study on 300,000 people debunked the obesity paradox.
The ‘obesity paradox’ claims that having some extra weight may actually protect your heart against disease. Yet, the latest study suggests that the claim is simply not true.
The new research published in the European Heart Journal was based on data on more than 296,000 adults within the 40-69 age range. Participants were tracked between 2006 and 2010. All volunteers were of ‘white European descent’.
- Researchers were curious to learn who was more prone to cardiovascular conditions like high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
- The study revealed a link between a being overweight and higher risk of these conditions.
Obesity Does Not Protect the Heart
The risk also multiplied if the person had more fat around their waistline. People with a normal weight were at the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease. In women, that risk started to climb for every extra 5.2 kg/m2. In men, the risk was higher for every extra 4.3kg/m2.
The study results challenge the claims of those who support the so-called obesity paradox.
Researcher Stamatina Iliodromiti underlined that extra fat does not have a ‘protective’ effect on the heart. Also, people with pre-existing disease have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease even if they have a normal weight.
Participants who had a BMI in the 22-23 kg/m2 range had a minimum cardiovascular risk. Also, the less fat around their waistlines heralded a heart disease-free future in most cases.
In February, a U.S. study revealed that being overweight or obese can ‘significantly’ increase the risk for cardiovascular conditions. That study appeared in JAMA Cardiology.
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