What happens to your heart when you gain weight?
The link between obesity and cardiovascular diseases has been well established in previous studies. However, the cardiac structural changes that underlie the disease processes are little understood.
In a study which examines the impact of obesity on the various functions and structure of the heart, found that even a little weight gain over time may alter structure and function of the heart muscle which may lead to an increased long-term risk of heart failure.
Conversely, participants who lost weight were more likely to exhibit a decrease in heart muscle thickness.
Researchers observed a large group of adults from The Dallas Heart Study (DHS) which is a multiethnic population‐based cohort study of Dallas county adults with intentional oversampling of blacks.
1,262 adults (57 percent women 44 per cent black, 36 percent obese) with an average age of 44 years, was observed and followed for seven years. The participants did not have any heart disease or any other conditions which would put them at a high risk for heart disease over the seven years.
The participants had MRI’s of their heart and multiple body measurements at the start of the study and then seven years later.
The researchers found that those who gained even 5 per cent weight were more likely to have thickening and enlargement of the left-ventricle – well established indicators of heart failure. They were also more likely to exhibit subtle decreases in heart pumping ability and changes in heart muscle appearance and function.
The researchers came to this conclusion after accounting for other factors which could affect heart muscle performance and appearances, including high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and alcohol consumption.
Conversely, participants who lost weight were more likely to exhibit a decrease in heart muscle thickness.
The weight of the participants at the beginning of the study did not impact any changes suggesting that even those of normal weight can experience adverse heart effects if they gain weight over time.
The researchers caution that this was a small study sample and that not everybody who gains weight will develop heart failure but the study results do suggest that changes in weight may affect the heart muscles whch can change how the heart functions.
Thus, maintaining one’s weight even if there is no weight loss is an important strategy, particularly for individuals who might be susceptible to heart diseases.
Source: Journal of the American Heart Association
