Consequences of obesity for the heart

In 2010 it was estimated that approximately 40 million children worldwide are overweight and 2,800,000 deaths can be attributed to the direct effect of obesity annually. 65% of the world's population lives in countries where excess weight causes higher mortality than underweight due to lack of nutrition.

• It is considered overweight when men have more than 20% body fat and women more than 30%.
• Obesity has been linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, or dyslipidemia, which increases the risk of having a heart problem.
• Sometimes obesity can have a genetic cause, and there are specially designed tests to find out.

Body fat is usually 12-20% in men and 20-30% in women, so that figures higher than these would indicate overweight. To determine in a more simple and immediate way if a person suffers from obesity or not, the calculation of which consists of dividing the weight expressed in kilos by the square of the height in meters is usually used worldwide.

This calculation provides some intervals that define the weight states:

• Low weight <18.5
• Normal weight 18.5 - 24.99
• Overweight 25 - 29.99
• Obesity ≥ 30

Causes and consequences of obesity

Obesity is established from different causes, and although it is true that there may be metabolic and genetic factors that predispose to it, the main cause of obesity is the imbalance that occurs between calorie intake and calorie consumption, both through the body's metabolic reactions and through physical activity.

Obesity has been linked through various studies with various diseases, such as type 2, la, dyslipidemias, joint and bone disorders, some types of cancer and respiratory problems.

The fact that obesity produces an increase in the presence of vascular risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure or dyslipidemia means that obesity can be related to an increased risk of suffering from a heart problem, such as angina chest, a heart attack or some kind of.

The presence of obesity problems associated with alterations in blood pressure and the metabolism of fats and sugars is what today is called metabolic syndrome.

High blood pressure is one of the main consequences of obesity. It has been proven that for every 10 kilos of weight gained there is an increase in blood pressure of about 2-3 mm Hg.

When this increase occurs, the heart needs to pump the blood with more force to ensure that it reaches the tissues correctly. This excessive work to which the heart is subjected eventually causes the organ to increase its muscle mass to cope with overexertion and the arteries to thicken, which hinders blood flow and favors a cardiovascular event such as angina. chest or heart attack.

Also, the thickening of the walls of the heart, known as ventricular hypertrophy, can lead to heart rhythm disturbances and an increased risk of heart failure and heart failure.

Central fat, which accumulates in the abdomen, causes fatty acids to be released into the blood in excess, a fact that affects the metabolism of the liver and consequently the ability of tissues to respond to insulin, thereby increasing the blood sugar levels.

High blood glucose damages the innermost layer of the blood vessels, which favors the development of arteriosclerosis, a hardening of the vessels, a fact that makes it difficult for the blood to pass and, therefore, increases the risk of it being produce an arterial occlusion.

The lipid profile

Similarly, obesity is related to a lipid profile that predisposes to the formation of occlusions in the arteries, with high levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol, while high molecular weight cholesterol or HDL, which has a cardioprotective role, it is usually diminished. Cholesterol is deposited in the inner layer of the arteries, which favors the appearance of atheroma plaques that hinder blood circulation and favor the appearance of cardiovascular events.

GENETIC CAUSE ...

He offers special prices for policyholders who need to undergo a Genetic Study of Obesity to determine the causes. An interesting tool that will allow better targeting of the treatment.