Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

Risk of Heart Disease Associated With Obesity can be Controlled by Limiting Cholesterol and Blood Sugar

by Dr. Enozia Vakil on November 22, 2013 at 6:59 PM
 Risk of Heart Disease Associated With Obesity can be Controlled by Limiting Cholesterol and Blood Sugar

The risk of heart disease linked to obesity can be cut down by controlling blood sugar, blood glucose and cholesterol levels.

A pooled analysis of 97 prospective studies from around the world found that the increased risk of heart disease or stroke in overweight and obese people is partly because their weight increases their chances of having high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood glucose.

Advertisement

The study, by a worldwide research consortium led by a team from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), Imperial College London, and the University of Sydney, covered a total of 1.8 million participants. The findings are published in The Lancet.

Worldwide, obesity has nearly doubled since 1980, according to a previous study by the research team, and more than 1.4 billion adults aged 20 and older are overweight or obese. Being overweight increases one's risk of heart disease and stroke — the leading causes of death worldwide — diabetes, and several types of cancer. The researchers had also previously estimated that 3.4 million annual deaths are due to overweight and obesity.
Advertisement

There has been debate over whether excess weight causes heart disease and stroke through effects on other risk factors, particularly blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose, and whether treatments that address these factors can offset the risks of being overweight.

The study found that high blood pressure, serum cholesterol, and blood glucose explain up to half of the increased risk of heart disease and three quarters of the increased risk of stroke among overweight or obese people. High blood pressure poses the biggest risk of the three metabolic factors examined, accounting for 31 per cent of the increased risk of heart disease and 65 per cent of the increased risk of stroke.

"Our results show that the harmful effects of being overweight or obese on heart disease and stroke partly occur by increasing blood pressure, serum cholesterol and blood glucose. Therefore, if we control these risk factors, for example through better diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, we can prevent some of the harmful effects of being overweight or obese," said senior author Goodarz Danaei, HSPH assistant professor of global health.

Co-author Professor Majid Ezzati, from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London, said: "Controlling hypertension, cholesterol, and diabetes through medication is useful, but not enough to offset the harms of overweight and obesity. So we need to need to find creative approaches that can curb and reverse the global obesity epidemic."

Professor Stephen Hill, Chair of the Medical Research Council's Molecular and Cellular Medicine Board, which part-funded the work, said: "Large, long-term population studies like this one are a very powerful tool, allowing researchers to disentangle individual factors and understand how they each contribute to our risk of disease. It's interesting that, even when blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol are brought under control, obese individuals are still at a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. This suggests that other factors might be at play, which is likely to be of interest for future research into the consequences of obesity."



Source: Eurekalert
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Heart Disease News

Heart Attack Fatalities Mark 12.5% Increase in 2022
The number of heart attack fatalities showed a notable increase, declining from 28,579 in 2020 to 28,413 in 2021, then surging to 32,457 in 2022.
Smart Watch Helps Detect Irregular Heart Rhythm
Atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm) can be accurately diagnosed with Verily Study Watch, the FDA-approved wrist-worn gadget.
Red Flags in Red Cells — Decoding Their Threat on Heart Health!
According to health experts, an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots is associated with higher hemoglobin levels.
Atherosclerosis in Young Adults Curbed by Early Risk Factor Management
Early cardiac evaluation reverses atherosclerosis caused by cardiac risk factors like high BP and high cholesterol in young adults.
Summer Wildfires and Winter Air Pollution Pose Varied Heart Health Risks
PM2.5 increases during winter inversions are associated with higher heart attack risk, stated study.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Risk of Heart Disease Associated With Obesity can be Controlled by Limiting Cholesterol and Blood Sugar Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests