Obesity is a health concern that affects millions of people worldwide. However it’s not just about the numbers on the scale, there’s a consequence – an increased risk of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death globally. It’s crucial to understand this connection so that individuals can take control of their well being and potentially remain healthy.
Exploring the Issue;
Carrying weight around the abdomen which means excess of visceral fat, puts strain on the entire cardiovascular system and can lead to the following problems:
Arterial Blockage: Obesity promotes plaque buildup in arteries narrowing them and hindering blood flow to important organs like the heart muscle. This significantly raises the chances of experiencing angina, heart attacks and strokes.
Increased Blood Pressure: The heart needs to work much harder to pump blood throughout the body in an obese person & this could result in high blood pressure – a significant risk factor for heart disease.
Inflammation: Obesity triggers low level inflammation that damages blood vessels and increases the likelihood of developing blood clots.
Diabetes Connection: Obesity often coexists with type 2 diabetes, which greatly escalates the risk of heart disease.
Breaking the Viscous Cycle:
The good news is that individuals have the power to break this cycle. Consider these steps;
1. Focus on a healthy diet: Replace processed foods and sugary drinks with an eating plan that includes plenty of fruits, veggies, whole grains and lean proteins.
2. Stay active: Engage in activity for at least 30 minutes most days of the week to significantly improve your heart health.
3. Small Changes: Remember that even small changes can make a difference. Studies have shown that losing even 5 -10% of your body weight improves cardiac function and can greatly reduce the risk of heart disease.
4. Anti Obesity Medications: Using these medications along with diet and exercise increases the chances of losing weight.
5. Swallow balloon capsule: A 10 minute non-surgical procedure could be a very simple option to decrease the stress on the heart by reducing weight
6. Bariatric Surgery/ Metabolic Surgery: For those who are unable to lose weight by simple measures and have heart disease, bariatric surgery has shown to significantly reduce the excess weight and thus improve cardiac function
7. Collaboration is key: Public health initiatives concerning healthy eating habits & increasing access to exercise at work could play a major role in avoiding Obesity & its associated problems.
Companies can play a major role by setting targets regarding an employees weight, alerting them from crossing into the Obesity range. Together lets work towards breaking the connection, between obesity and heart disease making progress towards health one step, at a time.
