There are epidemics of both obesity and heart disease in the United States, Australia, China also Malaysia, and Singapore. and they are closely connected.
Obesity and heart disease share many of the same risk factors, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. But it’s not just about weight — there are many other contributing factors to heart disease.
Read on to know what it is about the weight that puts you at risk for heart disease, and what you can do about it.
What is the connection between heart disease and weight?
Having excess pounds increases the risk for heart disease because of the increased risk of other conditions such as:
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- Sleep apnea
These all contribute to an increased risk of heart disease.
Even if you don’t have other conditions, obesity alone is a risk factor for heart disease. This is thought to be due to the increased inflammatory markers in obesity, which can lead to plaque buildup (atherosclerosis), heart attacks, or heart failure.
Interestingly, though, there are some groups of people who live longer if they have overweight or with mild obesity
:
- Seniors
- People with chronic heart, kidney, or lung disease
This is something called the “obesity paradox.” Scientists don’t fully know how to explain this yet.
What are the heart disease risks if obesity or overweight goes untreated?
As weight increases, changes happen in your body that can increase heart disease risk. You may develop high blood pressure, your cholesterol may increase, and your blood glucose levels may increase. Many of these changes are silent, so you might not even know they are happening — which is why they are so dangerous. And, as you’ll see, being overweight has many knock-on effects throughout the body that increase the risk of heart disease in many ways.
How obesity and overweight impact cholesterol levels
Obesity may change how your body processes cholesterol, which can lead to increased levels of cholesterol, specifically:
- Increased triglycerides
- Increased LDL “bad” cholesterol
- Decreased HDL “good” cholesterol
These can all increase the risk of heart disease.
Impact of weight on blood pressure
Having excess weight can also lead to high blood pressure. This is because your heart muscle has to pump harder. As it pumps harder, the blood vessels may stiffen in response. The kidneys may not work as well and fluid may build up in the blood vessels. All of this can cause high blood pressure.
How obstructive sleep apnea affects the heart
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition in which the upper airway can narrow and collapse during sleep. This can lead to snoring, pauses in breathing, and even awakening in the night gasping for air. Having overweight or obese increases the chances of having sleep apnea and most people (60% to 90%) with obstructive sleep apnea have overweight or obese.
OSA is closely linked with heart disease, and it is estimated that between 40% to 60% of people with heart disease also have sleep apnea.
OSA can affect the heart in many ways, including increased risk for:
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart failure
- Coronary artery disease
- Irregular heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation
Also worrying is that people with OSA who also have heart disease often have more complications and worse outcomes, including an increased risk of a heart attack or sudden death.
The link between obesity, diabetes, and heart disease
There is a strong link between obesity and diabetes. In fact, obesity is the main risk factor for diabetes. Both obesity and diabetes are strong risk factors for heart disease.
Obesity and diabetes share many of the same risk factors, including:
- Diets high in calories, carbohydrates, saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol
- Lack of exercise
- Family history of obesity and/or diabetes
- Obstructive sleep apnea
There is also a strong link between diabetes and heart disease: Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease by causing direct damage to the blood vessels around the heart, and it increases other risk factors for heart disease such as:
- Increasing blood pressure
- Raising bad (LDL) cholesterol
- Increasing triglycerides
How can I treat obesity and overweight?
There is no doubt about it, weight loss can be hard. But even just losing just 3% to 5% of total body weight can make a big impact. Saxenda For Weight Loss
There are three areas to focus on to be successful:
- Your diet
- Your physical activity level
- Your medications
Heart-healthy diet
A heart-healthy diet can help with weight loss and diabetes control. Your diet has a big impact on your heart health. A heart-healthy diet means having a diet that is high in:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Fiber
- Whole grains
- Healthy fats
You should avoid foods such as:
- Red meat
- Processed meat
- Fried foods
- Trans fats
- Sugary foods with added sugar or high fructose corn syrup
Exercise
Moving your body is crucial for your heart health. Physical activity helps reduce blood pressure, maintain a healthy weight, and improve cholesterol levels.
Your goal exercise for exercise is:
- 150 minutes per week (20 to 30 minutes per day) of moderate-intensity exercises like walking or gardening.
- OR 75 minutes per week (10 to 20 minutes per day) of vigorous-intensity exercises like running or swimming laps.
Medications
When diet and exercise changes don’t make enough of an impact on your weight or diabetes, it may be time to think about weight-loss medications. These medications work best alongside diet and exercise. Some examples of weight-loss medications include:
- Orlistat (Xenical)
- Liraglutide (Saxenda) Saxenda For Weight Loss
- Naltrexone ER/bupropion ER (Contrave)
- Phentermine/topiramate ER (Qsymia)
Each medication has unique benefits and side effects, so make sure to talk with your healthcare provider about what the best option might be for you.
The bottom line
Your heart health and your weight are closely connected. Having overweight or obese may increase your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and sleep apnea — all of which also increase heart disease risk. The good news is that there are steps you can take to have a healthy weight while also improving your heart health.