Heart Disease Risks And Weight Loss Connection

Your body weight and your risk for cardiovascular (heart) disease are closely connected. Heart disease is the number one killer in the Western hemisphere. According to 2018 American Heart Association statistics, heart disease was responsible for 1 of every 3 deaths in the US. Women are slightly more at risk than men and three times more likely to die of heart attack than breast cancer.

Are YOU At Risk?

Healthcare professionals use two basic biometric measurements to determine if your weight increases your risk of heart disease – Waist Circumference and Body Mass Index (BMI)

Body Mass Index or BMI, is a mathematical formula that uses the relationship between your height and weight in determining relative obesity. Often determined from a complex chart of height versus weight, BMI is simply your weight in kilograms (kg) divided by your height in meters squared. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) uses BMI to define four categories, underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for heart disease and high blood pressure.

• Underweight – BMI below 18.5
• Normal Weight – BMI of 18.5 – 24.9
• Overweight – BMI of 25.0 – 29.9
• Obese – BMI 30.0 and above

Waist Circumference

We all gain weight as we age, but where you store that additional body fat may determine if it places you at a higher risk. Measure the circumference of your waist just above your navel, this is a good indicator of your abdominal (belly) fat, a proven risk factor for heart disease. Your risk increases with a waist circumference of over 40 inches (101 cm) in men and over 35 inches (89 cm) in women.

Why Excess Weight Is Dangerous

Excess body fat, especially around your waist, requires your heart to work harder to push blood through potentially narrowing arteries and veins. This added work puts a huge strain on your heart, increasing your risk for hypertension, heart disease and stroke. People who carry excess fat in their stomach and chest are also at increased risk for pulmonary hypertension, a life threatening condition caused by increased blood pressure in the lungs leading to heart failure.

Decrease Your Heart Disease Risks

While there are risk factors for heart disease that you can’t change, like genetics or family history, you can change your weight.

Start by eliminating fast foods, calorie dense foods, colas, sodas and soft drinks. Start walking for 10 minutes a day, then increase that time by a few minutes each day until you are walking 30 minutes daily, easily and effortlessly. Increasing your activity level and eating a healthy diet will reduce your cardiovascular disease risks and perhaps add years to your life!