Belly fat and heart disease
read time: 388 words, about two minutes
There’s been a bit in the news as of late about the relationship of belly fat and heart disease.
Excess abdominal fat is one (of 5) indicators of metabolic syndrome (formerly called syndrome X). Metabolic syndrome is a diagnostic tool used to identify folks at high risk for Type 2 Diabetes, heart attack and stroke.
As you’re likely aware, there’s been some questioning over the value of BMI (Body Mass Index) which is a measure of weight in relation to height. Using BMI, muscular and fit folks can be classified as “overweight”. Measuring belly fat is a better gauge of risk related to weight.
In one study researchers looked at 101,765 men and women using Sagittal Abdominal Diameter (SAD) as a predictor of heart disease risk.
Men with the largest SAD had a 42% greater risk of heart disease. Women with the largest SAD had a 44% greater risk. The relationship between SAD and heart disease was strongest among the youngest.
Lead author of the study, Dr. Carlos Iribarren of Kaiser Permanente of Northern California in Oakland told Reuters:
“The message is really obesity in the abdomen matters even more than obesity overall.”
Dr. Arthur Agatston, heart surgeon and creator of the South Beach Diet will soon release The South Beach Heart Program book. Part of his message is – lose the belly fat. It’s an important predictor of heart disease.
Another study done at Wake Forest University School of Medicine looked at abdominal fat and weight loss.
Dr. Barbara Nicklas, professor of internal medicine at Wake Forest Univ. School of Medicine has shown that it’s not just abdominal fat, but the size of the fat cells that matter.
Her study divided women into groups of diet alone, diet + low-intensity exercise and diet + high intensity exercise.
At the end of the study all 3 groups had lost a similar amount of weight. However, the diet alone group didn’t have a significant change in their abdominal fat cells; whereas, the other two groups decreased the size of their abdominal fat cells by 18%.
The diet alone group lost weight in other parts of their body such as the thighs.
This study did not show a statistical difference between low intensity and high intensity exercise.
Get started. Do something. Walk around the block. Walk in place while watching TV.
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January 14th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
Belly fat and heart disease…
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