Obesity has been related to the increased risk of numerous diseases. Since 1975, the global prevalence of obesity has almost quadrupled, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). It has long been established that being overweight increases your risk of developing heart disease-causing conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. Recent study has demonstrated that being overweight is more than just a "co-conspirator" in the emergence of cardiac issues. Injuries to the cardiac muscles might result from the excessive body weight itself. Sleep disturbances, type 2 diabetes, lipid disorders, and high blood pressure are cardiovascular risk factors that are closely correlated with obesity. More recent data highlight abdominal obesity that is determined by waist circumference as an independent cardiovascular disease risk marker unrelated to body mass index.
One of the main risk factors for heart disease is obesity. Being overweight can disrupt your heart's rhythm, raise the chance of coronary artery narrowing, and place additional strain on your heart. However, certain body forms are more susceptible to heart disease than others. Both metabolic syndrome, related systemic inflammation, and blood vessels are improved by improving one's lifestyle and losing weight.
Also Read: Strategies to Manage Heart Disease Risk Factors and Prevent Heart Attacks
What is Obesity?
Chronic obesity can raise your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some forms of cancer, among other health problems. When the size and number of fat cells in your body increase beyond the normal limit, you become obese. The body mass index, or BMI, is a metric used to evaluate obesity.Your BMI is a measurement of your body size that accounts for both height and weight. It is computed by taking the square of your height in meters and dividing it by your weight in kilogrammes. Obesity increases the risk of heart disease.
Remember that BMI is only a screening tool and doesn't reflect any other variables like body composition. As an instance, because muscle is heavier and denser than fat, athletes with high BMIs can still be deemed healthy due to their muscle mass.
The American Diabetes Association states that when it comes to determining the risk of cardiovascular disease, your waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is a more reliable indicator than your body mass index (BMI). This measurement calculates the approximate amount of fat that is stored around your hips and waist.
You can determine your waist-to-hip ratio with just a tape measure. Your waist circumference is simply divided by your hip circumference after you have measured your waist (just above your belly button) and the widest portion of your hips.
Also Read: Natural Ways to Improve Your Heart Health
What are the Harmful Effects of Obesity On Heart Health?
Obesity is amongst the major risk factors for heart disease. According to a study, those who were obese had a higher chance of developing heart disease as well as a higher risk of dying from heart disease than those with a healthy BMI. Obesity can have numerous impacts on your heart. Let's examine those effects in more detail:- Increased risk of atherosclerosis: Elevated body fat, especially around the abdomen, can lead to changes that enhance insulin resistance and inflammation. These two elements have the potential to promote atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis in turn raises the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD occurs when plaque builds up on the walls of the arteries supplying the heart and makes it more difficult for blood to reach the heart. Angina and heart attacks are among the diseases that can result from coronary artery disease. Cerebrovascular disease, which alters blood flow in the brain and raises the risk of stroke, is another condition that atherosclerosis may induce.
- Increased heart load: Your body's blood volume may rise in parallel to an increase in body fat. Your heart may have to work harder to pump that blood as a result. The heart's primary pumping chambers, the ventricles, may experience structural alterations as a result of the increased strain over time. Heart failure may eventually result from this.
- Disturbed heart rhythm: Obesity has been associated with a form of arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation (AFib), that can result in potentially fatal blood clots. According to a study, obesity may account for one-fifth of all AFib incidences. Because of anatomical alterations in the heart that affect the electrical signalling that controls the pulse, the risk of AFib increases in obese people.
- Increased risk of high blood pressure: According to a study, in 65% to 78% of instances, obesity is believed to be the cause of high blood pressure. Over time, your arteries may become stiff due to the impact of high blood pressure. This may increase the likelihood of plaque accumulation and constrict your arteries, leading to atherosclerosis. Your heart also has to work harder when you have high blood pressure. As the heart muscle tries to cope with the elevated pressure, it may thicken. The alterations to the arteries and heart muscle can increase the risk of heart attacks, heart failure, and coronary artery disease.
- Increased risk of diabetes-related heart complications: One of the main risk factors for type 2 diabetes is obesity. High blood sugar levels over time can harm the nerves that regulate your heart as well as the blood vessels in and around it. Actually, compared to those without diabetes, those with diabetes have an approximately twofold increased risk of heart disease or stroke.
- Increased risk of sleep apnea: Obesity is also associated with sleep apnea. The apnea may increase the risk of high blood pressure.
Conclusion
In addition to heart problems, obesity increases the risk of diabetes and some types of cancer. Obesity has been associated with cardiac illness, such as AFib, heart failure, and coronary artery disease. Heart disease risk is also increased by body shape, particularly by having extra fat around the waist. This is due to the fact that visceral fat has the potential to exacerbate inflammation within the body. Know how your obesity will affect your heart health and learn the effective strategies to protect your heart from our expert cardiologists at Asian Heart Institute. Schedule a consultation now!FAQs
Q1: How does obesity increase the weight of the heart?A: Obesity forces the heart to work harder, leading to an increase in heart size and weight. This can cause strain on the heart muscles, increasing the risk of heart disease.
Q2: What are the harmful effects of obesity on heart health?
A: Obesity raises the risk of high blood pressure, cholesterol buildup, and heart failure. It also contributes to conditions like diabetes, which further impact cardiovascular health.
Q3: What are the overall effects of obesity on health?
A: Beyond heart disease, obesity can lead to diabetes, joint pain, sleep apnea, and an increased risk of stroke. It also affects mental health and reduces overall life expectancy.
