Extra flab on waistline invites heart trouble

An extra four inches of fat around the waist could raise a person's risk of developing heart problems, even if they are the right weight for their height. Previous research has looked at various types of heart disease and related health problems and yielded consistent results in determining that excess body weight increases a person's risk of heart disease. To look into the association of waistline and risk of developing heart problems, researchers from Sweden looked at two earlier studies, which measured the height, weight and waist size of over 80,000 patients between the ages of 45 and 83 years. To be specific, 34 per cent of the women examined were overweight while 11 per cent were obese. There was a similar pattern among the men, 46 per cent were overweight and 10 per cent obese. It was found that women carrying the extra weight around their stomachs are 15 per cent more likely to develop heart failure while men with a pot belly are 16 per cent more likely to develop the life-threatening condition. Over the seven years of both studies, there were 1,100 cases of heart failure and 64 deaths. The findings showed that having a pot belly increased the chance of suffering heart failure among those with normal Body Mass Index (BMI) almost as much as being overweight, raising the risk by 18 per cent. It was concluded that an increase of four inches (10 cm) in waistline raised the chance of suffering heart failure by 15 per cent among people of a normal BMI. Women with waists larger than 35 inches, the accepted healthy size for women, and men with waists larger than 40 inches are considered to be at higher risk of developing heart problems.

DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.

Was this Article Helpful Yes or No

Web Stories

7 Blood Thinning Foods For Healthy Heart

How To Take Care Of Mental Health?

Benefits Of Aerial Yoga

Tips To Avoid Conjunctivitis

8 Yoga Poses For Kids To Help Increase Height

Must Try Tips To Build Stamina

Lemon: A Multipurpose Starter Pack

Yoga Asanas To Release Negative Thoughts

Ways To Deal With Anxiety

Tips To Avoid Monsoon Illness