Understanding the relationship between obesity and the heart

Every 40 seconds, someone experiences a heart attack or stroke. These incidents - commonly referred to as cardiovascular events - are now the leading cause of death in society today. The good news is, four out of five cardiovascular deaths are preventable, and weight is an important factor in keeping the heart healthy.

More than 80% of people experiencing a heart attack or stroke live with overweight or obesity. Excessive and impaired body fat tissue can cause inflammation in the blood vessels that lead to the heart, causing a heart attack. Stiff arteries can also increase the risk of blood clots that travel to the brain, causing a stroke. This process is known as atherosclerosis.

Factors that increase a person’s risk of atherosclerosis, such as elevated levels of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol, can also be linked with obesity.

Unfortunately, 50% of people who have had a heart attack or stroke will experience another one in their lifetime, resulting in people having to live with fear, pain or reduced physical ability, and in the most serious of cases, even death.

Fortunately, the risk of death for cardiovascular events is lessened due to more effective ways of identifying and managing the risk factors early. In fact, today, 80% of deaths caused by heart attack and stroke are preventable, and most preventable deaths originate from cardiovascular conditions that can be caused by overweight and obesity.

You can identify your cardiovascular risk related to obesity using the Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) calculator. To learn more about how the Waist-to-Height calculator works, click here.
 

Losing 5% body weight (typically around 3-5 kilograms for people with a BMI of 30) can benefit the heart by improving blood pressure. Losing 10 - 15% body weight can reduce the risk of a non-fatal heart attack or stroke by up to 24%.  This is because weight loss reduces blood pressure and blood lipids, preventing the hardening of arteries and the formation of blood clots.

There are many other health benefits to 10% - 15% weight loss, such as improved sleep length and quality. Explore our other articles to find out how else 10% - 15% weight loss can improve your health. 

For most people living with obesity, losing 10% body weight is difficult to achieve without support. While there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ treatment plan, the first step for anyone wanting to lose weight is to consult with a doctor.

Your doctor may talk you through several weight management options. In the first instance, they may want to take a deeper look at your diet and exercise routine, although, like many people living with obesity, you may feel that you have been on a diet for most of your life! There are several other treatment plans your doctor may explore. These can include:

• Behavioural therapy: partnering with a psychologist to identify patterns, thoughts and emotions that can lead to weight gain and prevent weight loss.
• Obesity medications: prescribed medication from your doctor that influences the biological processes of your body and brain.
• Bariatric surgery: changing your gastric system through surgery, to lower your appetite and encourage changes to your metabolic system.

The most important thing to remember when starting a weight loss journey is that you are not alone. 764 million adults live with obesity globally and by 2030, this number is projected to rise to over 1 billion.  If you would like to discuss different weight management treatments, you can find your nearest weight management specialist below.