Does Being Overweight Affect Heart Disease? 3 Solutions

With recent evidence showing many men and women living with heart disease across the world, you may wonder: does being overweight affect heart disease risk?

“Globally it's estimated that 1 in 13 people are living with a heart or circulatory disease. and 260 million men.“- BHF

it has become more important than ever to take the steps needed early on to avoid problems in later life.

Here, we answer the fundamental questions you may have about heart disease: what is it? what causes it? Does being overweight affect heart disease? And how can I prevent it from happening to me?

What is Heart Disease?

Coronary heart disease is a condition that affects the arteries and the heart muscle.  Blood supply to the heart is restricted,  causing a reduction in the volume of oxygen reaching the heart muscle.

Our whole body requires a healthy oxygen supply in order to function, and keep it working effectively. The heart is no different,  with the cells making up the heart muscle and its connections requiring oxygen in order to maintain the contracting motion which keeps blood pumping through the body.

To put this into perspective, heart attacks are caused when the oxygen supply to the heart is cut off, causing cell death.

What Causes Heart Disease?

Atherosclerosis (where artery walls thicken due to a build-up of fatty materials, including cholesterol) is the most common cause of heart disease. You may already be aware of this by the term “hardening of the arteries”.

Factors known to cause heart disease, are:

• Smoking
• High sugar levels due to diabetes
• High amounts of fats and cholesterol in the blood

 When we consider the latter causes,  these are two symptoms of obesity.

So the short answer to – Does being overweight affect heart disease risk?

is: Yes, it impacts it negatively.

There is an important reason why doctors and health professionals encourage overweight and obese patients to exercise and lose weight. The fact is, when we weigh more than what is healthy for our height and build, we put ourselves at risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes among others.

Studies show that atherosclerosis and a build-up of cholesterol in arteries occur over time.  For us dieters who have already made the first steps on our weight loss journey, this means we are already taking positive steps to help avoid these killer diseases. For those who haven't:

There is no time like the present to work towards a healthy heart

before problems begin.

How can I Prevent Heart Disease?

The good news is, there are some small simple steps we can take to avoid heart disease and related problems. They don't require a complete lifestyle change to achieve, and can seem common sense:

1. Get active!  Doctors recommend 30 minutes of exercise each day.  This doesn't have to mean a hardcore gym session every day and could include taking the dog for a brisk walk.
2. Follow a healthy heart diet plan. This means eating foods that are lower in salt, cholesterol, and fat. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend the following targets for healthy adults: Total fat 20% to 35% of daily calories, Saturated fat 10% or less of daily calories, and no more than 6g of salt per day.
3. Lose weight for a healthy heart. You can drastically reduce your risk of heart disease and related medical problems by losing even 10% of your body weight. The tips above will get you started with losing weight, as will a calorie-controlled diet. For those who need a helping hand, there are numerous weight loss aids on the market that can help you lose weight and gain a healthier heart.

Diet Aids for a Healthier Heart

For anyone who feels they may be at risk of heart disease, the most important tip for choosing a weight loss aid is to avoid anything that causes an increase in blood pressure as this can only make heart problems worse.

This includes the dangerous pills ephedrine and clenbuterol as well as stimulant-based pills.

I recommend Zotrim for helping you to achieve a healthier weight. It can help you achieve tip number 1 by helping your energy levels so exercising becomes easier to tackle.

It can help you achieve tip number 3 of losing weight, yet it doesn't contain any risky ingredients that could make heart problems worse.

It is always best to consult a health professional before starting taking a supplement, especially if you already have a heart condition.

If you would like to read more about Zotrim:

Click here to read my independent review