Heart attack survivors who carry more belly fat are at greater risk of another heart attack. New research shows that measuring your waist circumference may be more important than constantly stepping on the scale.
The new study was published in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology. Researchers have found a connection between belly fat and the risk of another heart attack.
“A healthy waist circumference is important to reduce the likelihood of a reinfarction, regardless of how many medications you take orhow healthy your blood values are“said Dr. Hanieh Mohammadi from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm said in a press release.
The study followed more than 22,000 Swedish patients after their first heart attack and examined the connection between their waist circumference and events caused by blocked arteries, such as fatal and non-fatal heart attacks. The patients were followed for almost four years, with 1,232 men (7.3%) and 469 women (7.9%) suffering a heart attack.
Most patients - 78% of men and 90% of women - had abdominal obesity, defined as a waist circumference of 94 cm or more for men and 80 cm or more for women.
The study found that belly fat was associated with heart attack independent of other risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, body mass index and preventative treatments. The researchers emphasized that waist circumference was a more important marker than general obesity and advised doctors to measure their patients' waists to identify those at risk.
However, they said the association was stronger and more linear in men, who made up almost three-quarters of the patients included in the study, than in women.
According to Mohammadi, some studies suggest thatMen may have more visceral fatthat penetrates deep into your body and forms around your vital organs. This fat can be converted into cholesterol, which builds up in the arteries and may ultimately lead to a heart attack.
"In women, a larger portion of abdominal fat is thought to be subcutaneous fat, which is relatively harmless," she said. However, the smaller number of women included in the study means the results have less "statistical power" and more research is needed to draw firm conclusions, Mohammadi said.
According to the World Health Organization, the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks is higher in men with a waist circumference of more than 94 cm and in women with a waist circumference of more than 80 cm. It is believed that the risk is significantly increased in men with a waist circumference of more than 102 cm and 88 cm in women.
The authors said thatThe best way to get rid of belly fat is through a healthy dietand regular exercise can be reduced. Previous studies have shown that regular moderate cardio, such as: B. Walking at least 30 minutes a day can help. Strength training with weights can also be useful, but targeted exercises like sit-ups do not affect visceral fat.
