Nearly 70% of American adults are either overweight or obese. Nearly one in three U.S. children (23.9 million) ages 2 to 19 are overweight or obese. Being obese puts you at a higher risk for health problems such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and more.
People with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher are considered obese. The term “obesity” is used to describe the health condition of anyone significantly above his or her ideal healthy weight. Don’t be discouraged by the term. It simply means you are 20% or more above your ideal weight, and you are not alone.
Being obese can:
. raise blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
. lower “good” HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is linked with lower heart disease and stroke risk, so low LDL tends to raise the risk.
. increase blood pressure.
. induce diabetes. In some people, diabetes makes other risk factors much worse. The danger of heart attack is especially high for these people.
Obesity increases the risk for heart disease and stroke. But it harms more than just the heart and blood vessel system. It’s also a major cause of gallstones, osteoarthritis and respiratory problems.
The Effect of Obesity on Heart Disease
It is hard to overstate the dangers of an unhealthy weight. If you are overweight, you are more likely to develop forms of heart disease, such as heart attack, congestive heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina (chest pain), and abnormal heart rhythm, even if you have no other heart disease risk factors. The more overweight a person is, the more likely he or she is to develop heart disease.
Also, people who are overweight or suffer from obesity are more likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, high levels of triglycerides (blood fats) and LDL cholesterol (a fat-like substance often called the “bad cholesterol”), and low levels of HDL cholesterol (the “good cholesterol”). These are all risk factors for heart disease and stroke. In addition, people with more body fat have higher blood levels of substances that cause inflammation. Inflammation in blood vessels and throughout the body may increase the risk for heart disease.
Heart Disease and Obesity: Assessing Your Risk
While you should talk with your doctor about whether you should lose weight, keep these guidelines in mind:
• If you are overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9) and have two or more other risk factors, or if you are obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30), you should lose weight.
• If you are overweight, have a high waist measurement (over 35 inches for a woman; over 40 inches for a man), and have two or more other risk factors, you should lose weight.
• If you are overweight but do not have a high waist measurement and have fewer than two other risk factors, you should avoid further weight gain.
If you need to lose weight, here’s some good news: A small weight loss — just 5 to 10 percent of your current weight — will help to lower your risk for heart disease and other serious medical disorders. The best way to take off pounds is to do so gradually by getting regular physical activity and eating a balanced diet that is lower in calories and saturated fat. For some people at very high risk, medication also may be necessary. To develop a weight loss or weight maintenance program that works well for you, or to get more information about obesity and heart disease, talk with your doctor, registered dietitian, or qualified nutritionist.
Treatment of Obesity and Heart Disease
In patients with congestive heart failure, sodium restriction and small reductions in weight may dramatically improve ventricular function and oxygenation. In addition, several studies suggest that the more extensive weight reduction that follows gastrointestinal surgery for obesity reduces cardiovascular mortality and in persons with non–insulin-dependent diabetes, both cardiovascular and total mortality.
No matter what the therapeutic approach, it is important to realize that obesity is a disorder and recidivism is common, with <5% of patients maintaining their reduced weight at 4 years. Thus, therapeutic regimens must be maintained indefinitely; even then, only surgery has been proved to produce substantial sustained longterm weight loss. Prevention of obesity by diet and regular physical activity remains the highest priority for maintaining cardiovascular health. This is particularly important for small children and adolescents.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or health care provider. We encourage you to discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.
Dr. Scala has been selected a Castle Connolly 2015 “Top Doctor” by a physician-led team of researchers in the field of Cardiovascular Disease.
South Cape Business Center
3208 Chiquita Blvd. S, Suite 110
Cape Coral, FL 33914
(239) 574-8463
www.flccg.com
Our Cardiologist
Dr. Louis J. Scala has been voted TOP DOCTOR four consecutive years by Castle Connolly. He received his medical degree at the State University of New York Health Science Center. He completed his Residency at Brown University, and Cardiology Fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at UCLA. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and specializes in Cardiovascular Disease.