Research

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Obesity is a major independent risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and sudden cardiac death, with risk increasing linearly with BMI and visceral adiposity.

If you have excess body fat, especially around your midsection, your risk for heart disease, heart failure, and arrhythmias increases significantly, even if your blood pressure and cholesterol are normal. Do not rely on BMI alone; ask your doctor about assessing visceral fat or using waist circumference, as these are better predictors of heart risk.

StrongSupportsHIGH confidence
Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of HF... The incidence of HF increases along the BMI spectrum... individuals who are obese have a significantly greater risk of incidence coronary artery disease (CAD)... obesity accounts for 20% of AF cases... Obesity is also an recognized risk factor for sudden cardiac death (SCD)... the risk of SCD increases by 16% for every 5-unit increment in BMI
Waleed AlHabeeb et al. · Journal of the Saudi Heart Association · 2024

Why this rating

Based on a multidisciplinary expert panel reviewing original articles, meta-analyses, and population-based studies.

Source

A Saudi Heart Association Position Statement on Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease

Waleed AlHabeeb et al. · Journal of the Saudi Heart Association · 2024

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