Cardiovascular diseases — primarily heart disease and stroke — are the leading global cause of death, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Common heart diseases include coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, and cerebrovascular disease.
Health factors that contribute to heart disease include:
High blood pressure
Elevated glucose levels
Raised lipid levels
The concentration of fat in the truncal area is connected to the buildup of plaque in arteries, which creates increased risks for cardiovascular disease. One recent study found that heart attack patients with abdominal obesity were more likely to have recurring atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
The instance of heart disease in obese patients can be addressed through public health programs that aim to improve diet and exercise habits and promote weight loss. These programs educate community members on risks such as:
Dangers of eating energy-dense foods with high fat and sugar contents
Health impacts of physical inactivity
Cardiovascular risks related to smoking
Public health programs may also identify high-risk members of the community. They connect these clients with healthcare resources, including treatment, medication, and counseling.
The link between abdominal fat and repeat heart attacks
Scientists already know that stomach fat — known as abdominal obesity — increases the risk of having a first heart attack. But new research finds that having excessive fat in this specific area also increases risk of subsequent heart attacks.
“The reason abdominal obesity is very common in people with a first heart attack is that it is closely linked with conditions that accelerate the clogging of arteries through atherosclerosis,” explains study author Dr. Hanieh Mohammadi, from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.
“These conditions include increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, and insulin resistance (diabetes) as well as raised blood lipid levels.”
However, Dr. Mohammadi says the team’s results “suggest that there may be other mechanisms associated with abdominal obesity that are independent of these risk factors and remain unrecognized.”
Although a relatively understudied area, the link between stomach fat and recurring heart attacks was so distinct that the study’s authors believe that healthcare professionals should use waist circumference to identify at-risk patients.
