In a significant revelation, studies conducted by the Journal of the American Heart Association and the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology have shed light on a critical health concern: abdominal obesity, even in individuals with a normal overall weight, significantly increases the risk of heart attack.
The 2018 study, which tracked half a million participants aged between 40 and 69 in the UK, found that women with excess weight around their middle, determined by waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, or waist-to-height ratio, faced a staggering 10 to 20 percent higher risk of heart attack than women with overall higher body weight. Notably, the waist-to-hip ratio emerged as a more significant risk factor for heart attacks in women compared to men. Strikingly, this study highlighted that waist-to-hip ratio was 18 percent more effective as a heart attack predictor in women and six percent in men, surpassing the predictive power of body mass index (BMI).
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Building on this, a subsequent 2020 study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology reinforced the importance of waist circumference as a crucial indicator of heart attack risk. This study emphasised that abdominal obesity, as measured by waist circumference, not only indicates the risk of a first heart attack but also heightens the likelihood of recurrent episodes after the initial incident.
These findings underscore the necessity of focusing on abdominal obesity as a key factor in heart health assessments. Even if an individual maintains a normal overall weight, excess belly fat can significantly elevate the risk of heart attack. Therefore, it is imperative for both men and women to monitor their waist circumference and adopt lifestyle changes to mitigate this risk, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and consultation with healthcare professionals for personalised guidance.
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