Until now, some research has suggested that obesity without other elements of the metabolic syndrome can even be classified as healthy, but this idea seems to be changing. Dr. Péter Vaskó, a specialist at the Buda Cardiocentre, sheds light on the connections.
Obesity carries many health risks, such as an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain cancers. However, so far there has been one “metabolically healthy obesity” a category called, in which those who had a high BMI index, but did not have any other disease for which obesity was the main risk factor, were classified. However, this category was not precisely defined, so German scientists have now made an attempt to do so.
According to their definition – published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. published in a trade journal, here we can talk about the obesity that is not accompanied by high blood pressure, dyslipidemia and diabetes. However, in their article, they also asked the question of how female obesity alone affects cardiovascular diseases. According to Dr. Vaskó, however, it is a certain problem that the observation and non-prospective study only took women into account, even though it is well known that fatal cardiovascular death mainly affects men.
A high BMI in itself is a risk factor
Studies that followed women with “metabolically healthy obesity” for at least 12 years were first selected. Analyzing several such relevant studies, they concluded that obesity definitely increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases – whether or not other metabolic diseases are present. In one of the largest studies (Nurses’ Health Study), 90,257 women were monitored with biannual questionnaires between 1980 and 2010. They were classified into different categories based on their BMI and cardiovascular health.
Among them, during the average follow-up period of 24 years, 6,306 women were diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, 3,304 cases of heart attack and 3,080 cases of stroke were registered. In the analyses, influencing factors were taken into account – from physical activity to smoking and family accumulation – and they came to the conclusion that “metabolically healthy obesity” cannot be called a harmless condition. For those women who belong to this category, 39% increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, compared to women with a normal BMI.
According to the article, it can definitely be said that women with a high BMI, although free of high blood pressure and blood sugar, should not be under illusions and should pay extra attention to physical activity and a healthy diet. At the same time, Dr. Péter Vaskó draws attention to the fact that the finding is not supported by studies accepted by the profession, so further research is needed on the subject.
Long-term effects must be avoided
– It is worth knowing about cardiovascular diseases that they are most likely the result of a long process. Thus, for example, one type of cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, deposits in the arteries and causes atherosclerosis, which can later lead to stroke or heart attack, among other things. Therefore, it is of fundamental importance to reduce the cholesterol level. That is why he emphasized the importance of a diet based on the elements of the DASH diet and physical activity in the 2016 announcement of the European Society of Cardiology. The lifestyle designed in this way not only reduces the level of LDL cholesterol, but also increases the level of “good” cholesterol, HDL. In 2017, the American College of Endocrinology also made its recommendation on the matter.
The company marked fitness therapy as at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, on 4-6 days of the week, during which we use at least 200 Kcal on occasion – emphasizes dr. Péter Vaskó, cardiologist at the Buda Cardiocenter. – And for people with a high BMI – and in this area men are just as at risk as women – absolutely annual cardiology examination is recommended, which can map the state of the heart and vascular system and, with timely treatment, prevent and slow down possible negative processes.
Source: www.patikamagazin.hu
