September 24, 2007 – Gaining stomach, even moderately, would increase the risk of suffering from cardiovascular disorders. When the excess weight is concentrated in the abdominal region, the risk of suffering from heart disease increases the most, according to an American study1.
Texan researchers studied a cohort of 2,744 subjects by comparing various measures of obesity. They detected the warning signs of atherosclerosis, a leading cause of cardiovascular events, using medical imaging tests.
Measurements of obesity included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. They then compared this data to lime deposits in the subjects’ arteries and the buildup of plaque in their aorta. We know that calcium deposits in the arteries as well as plaque (accumulation of fat that precedes calcium deposits) predispose to cardiovascular disorders, in particular to infarction and stroke.
Waist / hip measurement |
According to their results, subjects with a high waist-to-hip ratio had significantly more warning signs of atherosclerosis than those with flatter stomachs. Such a correlation could not be established for those who had a high BMI or a large waist circumference.
Where fat is concentrated is probably more important than weight gain itself, the study authors note. In short, if we could keep our stomachs flat, the risk of suffering from cardiovascular disorders could be less.
These are Canadian researchers who, as early as 2005, had concluded that the waist circumference / hip circumference ratio was important to more precisely assess the risks of suffering from cardiovascular disorders.2. They had then studied more than 27,000 subjects from 52 different countries.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
According to BBC and CBC.
1. See R, Abdullah SM, et al. The Association of Differing Measures of Overweight and Obesity With Prevalent Atherosclerosis, The Dallas Heart Study. J Am Coll Cardiol, 2007; 50: 752-759.
2. Yusuf S, Hawken S, et al. INTERHEART Study Investigators. Obesity and the risk of myocardial infarction in 27,000 participants from 52 countries: a case-control study. Lancet. 2005 Nov 5; 366 (9497): 1640-9.