September 04, 2012
Shedding light on the ‘obesity paradox'
Some obese people may be metabolically healthy and fit,
with no greater risk of cardiovascular disease or cancer than
people of a normal weight, according to new research.
Researchers have suggested there may be a subset of
obese people who don't suffer from conditions such as
diabetes, high
cholesterol or high blood pressure
and who have a higher level of fitness than other obese people.
Calculating your body mass index and measuring your waist are great ways to keep on track
Our
Senior Cardiac Nurse, Amy Thompson, said: “In the majority of
cases, obesity is an undeniable
risk
factor for developing
coronary heart
disease. However, these studies remind us that it is not always
your weight that’s important, but
where you carry
fat and also how it affects your health and fitness.
“It is particularly important to be aware of
your weight if you are carrying excess fat around your
middle. The fat cells here are really active, producing
toxic substances that cause damage which can lead to heart disease.
Maintaining a healthy diet with lots of
physical activity can help to slim you
down as well as reduce your risk of heart health problems.
“But don’t get too caught up on the
numbers on the scale. Calculating your body mass
index and measuring your waist are great ways to keep on track. If
you are concerned about your weight and want to make changes to
your lifestyle, make an appointment with your GP to talk it
through.”
This study was published online in the
European Heart Journal.