Abdominal fat is considered an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is usually associated with high levels of triglycerides, low levels of good cholesterol (HDL), resistance to insulin action with elevated blood sugar levels (diabetes).
“Abdominal fat is also responsible for causing the increased fat in the liver and is often associated with the high blood pressure and increased blood viscosity“, clarifies Ricardo Pavanello, cardiologist and supervisor of Clinical Cardiology at HCor.
Obesity is caused by excess food combined with a sedentary lifestyle. “It is important to remember that other factors can trigger or aggravate obesity such as genetic, neurological, psychological, metabolic and socioeconomic factors”, he clarifies.
If the individual has a diet rich in saturated fat (which is found mainly in products of animal origin), an increase in the level of cholesterol in the blood may occur, the main cause of the formation of fatty plaques in the arteries. “With this accumulation, the coronary arteries become narrower, in addition to decreasing the blood supply to the heart muscle”, he says.
The heart of the obese
Obesity and overweight cause important changes in the structure and size of the heart, in addition to compromising its functioning. The logic is as follows: the greater the overweight, the greater the heart’s effort to pump blood. “The accumulation of fat cells increases the risk of clogged arteries, making it difficult for the heart to perform properly,” explains Dr. Pavanello.
If the risk factors are treated, the chance that the fatty plaques that are deposited in the arteries become inflamed decreases considerably. Whatever the treatment method used, these plaques remain in the vessels, but in a stable condition, reducing the chances of adverse events in the heart.
“The distance between “a few extra pounds” and the first degree of obesity is short. Therefore, it is important to make the population aware of the risks that obesity brings to health”, he warns.
Prevention and treatment: Obesity is a chronic disease and requires serious and continuous treatment. In what way? “The combination of physical activity and a balanced diet is the best treatment”, replies the HCor cardiologist. “In addition to losing weight, with small changes in lifestyle it is possible to reduce the risk of developing major cardiovascular diseases by up to 60%”, he says.
How to identify overweight
It is possible to identify excess weight based on the body mass index (BMI). The calculation is done by dividing weight (in kilograms) by height (in metres) squared. This formula makes it possible to diagnose whether a person has a normal weight (BMI 20 to 25), is overweight or overweight (BMI 25 to 30) or is obese (BMI greater than 30).
Obesity severity is divided into grade I (moderate excess weight) when BMI is between 30 and 34.9; grade II (mild or moderate obesity) with BMI between 35 and 39.9 and, finally, grade III (morbid obesity) in which BMI exceeds 40.
belly fat
When fat accumulates between the organs in the abdomen it becomes dangerous. This type of fat is behind many fatal evils associated with obesity. In the evaluation of the waist size of Brazilians made by IBGEthe conclusion was that 37.7% of the population has an increased waist, which also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Among women, the problem was much more prevalent: 52.1% of women and 21.8% of men have the problem. “THE waist circumference measurement indirectly reflects the fat content between the organs in the region. The World Health Organization (WHO) establishes that the measure equal to or greater than 94 cm in men and 80 cm in women already increases the risk – especially for heart-related diseases,” explains Dr. Pavanello.
Obesity control tips
A healthy eating, associated with the practice of physical exercises, is essential to reduce overweight and prevent obesity. “Maintaining adequate nutritional control and exercising regularly are capable of reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases by up to 50%.
That is why it is worth adopting healthy lifestyle habits, practicing physical activity frequently (30 minutes of daily walking), giving preference to fat-free foods, as well as the consumption of vegetables, fruits and vegetables”, he advises.
