The Heart Doctors | Reading & Shared Info

OBESITY

Obesity:

A Risk Factor for Coronary Artery Disease?

An ideal person’s body mass index (BMI) should be less than 25.

The BMI can be calculated based on the following formula:BMI = Weight (kg) / Height2 (m2)

Once your BMI exceeds 25.0, you are considered overweight, and obesity sets in once the BMI exceeds 30.0.

With obesity, there are definite physiological and metabolic changes that occur, and obese individuals are more prone to developing the risk factors for coronary artery disease and stroke, and hence developing the heart attack or stroke.

Some of these changes include:

1. High blood pressure

2. High cholesterol

3. Fatty liver

4. Diabetes mellitus (type II)

Whilst a person’s bodyweight and bodyshape is genetically determined to a certain extent, it is nevertheless important to adopt a healthy lifestyle, with regular exercise, a healthy diet (without excessive simple sugars, calories, fats or salt), restriction on alcohol intake, abstinence from smoking and a regular health screening at least once a year.

Any amount of weight reduction for an obese individual, when done the proper way, has a beneficial effect on protecting the heart and the blood vessels, as it is associated with positive metabolic changes. Remember, there are no shortcuts and no replacement for a healthy lifestyle program.