Being overweight related to the heart structure of young adults, function

(Reuters Health) – Even in early adulthood, being overweight is badociated with an increased risk of high blood pressure and heart muscle damage that could pave the way for cardiovascular disease later in life.

Most previous research on the relationship between body mbad index ( BMI) – a weight measurement adjusted for height – Researchers examined the relationship between BMI and regularly collected cardiovascular data, such as blood pressure and heart rate, in more than 3,000 17-year-olds born in the 1990s. They also examined cardiovascular scintigraphies of 400 21-year-old children who exhibited a higher genetic risk of having an unhealthy BMI.

"Our results suggest that increased BMI probably results in higher blood pressure," said study author Kaitlin Wade of the University from Bristol in the United Kingdom. The results also suggest that a higher BMI causes a higher left ventricular mbad index, reflecting widening of the left ventricle in the heart, which pumps blood around the body, she said. .

"These results suggest that BMI is likely to have a negative causal impact on the heart structure even in young adults," Wade said by email. "Our results support efforts to reduce BMI to normal and healthy levels at an early age to prevent subsequent cardiovascular disease."

A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, 30 or more is obese. and 40 or more is morbid or extremely obese. (The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have a free BMI calculator online here: bit.ly/2ylWKJC.)

In this study, 17-year-olds with available weight data had a Average BMI of about 23, in the healthy range, and mean blood pressure readings of about 119 mmHG over 64 mmHG, also in a healthy range.

The American Heart Association defines hypertension, or hypertension, as a systolic reading of 130 mmHg or greater and diastolic readings of 80 mmHg or greater. The systolic pressure reflects the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the arteries when the heart beats. The diastolic pressure indicates the pressure when the heart rests between the beats.

Among young adults in this study, higher BMIs were badociated with an increased risk of high blood pressure, researchers report in the circulation.

The study was not a true controlled experiment designed to prove whether or how overweight could directly cause heart problems.

Still, the results suggest that heavier young adults had hearts that pumped a greater volume of blood every minute, which over time can lead to high blood pressure and thickening of the heart muscle, notes the Dr. Holly Gooding, researcher at Harvard. Boston School of Medicine who did not participate in the study. "This is due to the increased metabolic demands of their higher weight, or to the increased inflammation generated by the fat cells themselves, or something else is not clear because these mechanisms have not been addressed in this study ". . "What we do know is that it's not just due to less physical activity or less optimal diets in these people, because these lifestyle factors were not badociated with BMI genes. "

can still take steps to minimize their risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems, Gooding added.

"Everyone can protect their heart by staying physically active, eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables and whole grains, low in sodium and added sugars, and avoiding smoking," said Gooding. "These health behaviors are important regardless of the weight of each."

SOURCE: bit.ly/2mU6Vgb Circulation, online July 30, 2018.