More than the weight, the silhouette. It’s not just obesity that is dangerous for heart health, according to researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota (northern United States). The study was presented at a congress on cardiovascular prevention of the European Society of Cardiology in Ljubljana, Slovenia) as reported by AFP.
“People with a normal weight but a large belly have a higher risk of heart problems than those without a large belly, even if they are obese,” explains the study’s lead author, Dr. Jose Medina. -Inojosa in a statement. It is therefore possible to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) qualified as normal but to suffer from abdominal obesity, which is even more dangerous for the heart.
Double the risk
To reach this conclusion, the researchers reviewed the medical records of 1,692 Americans and Europeans aged 45 and older. The study began between 1997 and 2000 and ended in 2016. As a result, having a big belly doubles the risk of heart disease.
We speak of abdominal obesity when the waist circumference exceeds 90% of the hip circumference in men and 85% in women. For Dr. Medina-Inojosa, in such a case, it is best to consult a doctor. “Current recommendations do not say to assess possible abdominal obesity in people with normal weight according to BMI,” adds the doctor. “Here we emphasize the importance of it, since some individuals are not aware of the repercussions on their health”, he summarizes.
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