Obesity Causes Heart Disease

                                                      

  Obesity across the world

As a species, we are getting fatter. There are 400 million adults worldwide who are obese and one billion who are overweight. Children are getting fatter too. Worldwide, 17.6 million children under five are estimated to be overweight.

The latter half of the twentieth century saw major changes to all our diets and how we live.  We moved from plant-based diets to high-fat, energy-dense animal-based diets while at the same time becoming physically inactive. Many developing countries face the strange situation of having the problems of under nutrition and obesity, at the same time.

Obesity and cardiovascular disease
If you are overweight you may develop hypertension, diabetes and atherosclerosis.  These conditions will put you at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

You can tell if you are obese by the size of your waist, the ratio of your waist to your hips, and the relationship between your height and your weight.  This last measure is known as the Body Mass Index (BMI).  It is not a perfect way of checking your cardiovascular risk but as your BMI increases, so does your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Body Mass Index In Adults :-
The benefits of maintaining a healthy weight go far beyond improved energy and smaller clothing sizes. By losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight, you are also likely to enjoy these quality-of-life factors too.

    Fewer joint and muscle pains
    More energy and greater ability to join in desired activities
    Better regulation of bodily fluids and blood pressure
    Reduced burden on your heart and circulatory system
    Better sleep patterns
    Reductions in blood triglycerides, blood glucose, and risk of developing type 2 diabetes
    Reduced risk for heart disease and certain cancers

BMI is an indicator of the amount of body fat for most people. It is used as a screening tool to identify whether an adult is at a healthy weight. Find your BMI and what it means with our handy BMI Calculator. A separate BMI Percentile

Calculator should be used for children and teens that takes a child’s age and gender into consideration.

BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in meters (kg/m2).

f your BMI is greater than 25 you are considered overweight. If you are of south Asian origin you may be considered overweight if your BMI is greater than 22.  If you are a woman, a BMI greater than 21 may adversely affect your heart’s health.  If your BMI is more than 30, you are obese and at serious risk of cardiovascular disease. If your BMI is below 18.5 your are probably underweight.

Your waist measurement can also tell you if you are at risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
                               Increased risk                      High risk
Men - not Asian                  94-101 cm                                        >= 102 cm
Men - Asian                       -                                        >=  90 cm
Women - not Asian                 80-87 cm                                        >=  88 cm
Women - Asian    -                                                         >=  80 cm

Why obesity causes cardiovascular disease
Previously, it was thought that fat was inert.  Now scientists understand that fat, especially intra-abdominal fat, has significant impact on our metabolism.

You have intra-abdominal fat if you have a big belly.  This fat affects your blood pressure; your blood lipid levels and interferes with your ability to use insulin effectively.  You use insulin to process glucose derived from food, our body's primary fuel. If you cannot use insulin properly you may develop diabetes, a risk factor of cardiovascular disease.

As you get fatter, your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and hypertension rises steeply. Statistics show that 58% of diabetes and 21% of ischemic heart disease are attributable to a BMI above 21.
    BMI stands for Body Mass Index
    This is a numerical value of your weight in relation to your height. A BMI between 18.5 and 25 kg/m² indicates a normal weight. A BMI of less than 18.5 kg/m² is considered underweight. A BMI between 25 kg/m² and 29.9 kg/m² is

considered overweight. A BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher is considered obese.
    
    Excess weight increases the heart's work.
    It also raises blood pressure and blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels and lowers HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It can make diabetes more likely to develop, too. Lifestyle changes that help you maintain a 3-5% weight loss are likely to

result in clinically meaningful improvements in blood glucose, triglycerides, and risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Greater weight loss can even help reduce BP and improve blood cholesterol.
    
    To calculate your BMI:
        Type your height and weight into the calculator.
        Select a status option if you're under 20 years old, highly trained/athletic, pregnant or breastfeeding. If one of these situations applies to you, the BMI may not be the best method of assessing your risk from overweight or obesity.