Research
Energy balance
Elevated Body Mass Index (BMI), including the overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2) and obese (>=30 kg/m2) ranges, is associated with a linear, dose-response increase in the risk of heart failure in men.
Maintaining a BMI in the lean range (<25 kg/m2) is associated with the lowest heart failure risk. Risk increases linearly with BMI, meaning even being 'overweight' (25-29.9) carries a significantly higher risk than being lean. Weight management is a primary strategy for heart failure prevention.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
In multivariable analyses, every 1-kg/m2 increase in BMI was associated with an 11% (95% confidence interval [CI], 9 to 13) increase in HF risk.
Why this rating
Large prospective cohort, long follow-up, robust statistical adjustment.
Source
Body Mass Index and Vigorous Physical Activity and the Risk of Heart Failure Among Men
Satish Kenchaiah et al. · Circulation · 2008
DOI 10.1161/circulationaha.108.807289
cohort · n=21094Cited 249×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
Related findings · Energy balance
- Achieving a total body weight loss of 10-15% (or >10-15 kg) through Total Diet Replacement (TDR) induces remission of Type 2 Diabetes in individuals with short-duration disease.Strong
- Bariatric surgery is superior to medical management alone for inducing significant long-term weight loss, remission of type 2 diabetes, and reduction in mortality for patients with BMI ≥ 40 or ≥ 35 with comorbidities.Strong
- Achieving type 2 diabetes remission requires significant weight loss (≥15 kg) via major caloric restriction, independent of macronutrient composition.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →