New research suggests that body fat may have a protective effect on the heart in women. The study found that ahigher muscle masswas associated with lower mortality from cardiovascular disease. In addition, the researchers found that over the past 50 years, death rates have decreased for both sexes. The study authors emphasize that among people of the same age and weight, the female body tends to accumulate fat by multiplying the number of fat cells, while the male body typically grows larger fat cells.
Heart benefits of body fat in women and men
However, the rate of decline was slower in women, while the rate of heart attacks is actually increasing in females ages 35 to 54. Additionally, research suggests that men have higher mortality and poorer prognosis after acute cardiovascular events. Because heart problems appear to affect the sexes differently, doctors should give different prevention advice to their male and female patients. Therefore, the focus for women should be on maintaining or increasing muscle mass rather than losing fat. The research team conducted a body composition analysis using data from a total of 5,627 women and 5,836 men over the age of 20. In both sexes, the raw data showed that higher fat levels were associated with a correspondingly increased mortality, regardless of muscle mass. After these adjustments, researchers found that women with high body fat and muscle mass had a 42% lower risk of heart attack.
This study supports the need for a shift in the focus of advice given to women by health professionals. This shift aims to increase muscle mass through exercise rather than aiming for weight loss. However, this differs from the current emphasis on weight loss in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, health professionals need to further evaluate the methods to practically achieve such a change in body composition. In addition, there is a very complex interaction betweenbody fat and other risk factorssuch as cholesterol levels, blood pressure, diabetes and hormone replacement therapies.
For example, excessive body weight increases the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of heart disease. Nevertheless, the authorsthis studyidentified several plausible ways in which body fat in women might provide some protection. For example, fat in the thighs and buttocks supports metabolism, which offsets any damage caused by belly fat.
