Even a Few Extra Pounds Raise Heart Risk
By Chauncey Crandall, M.D.
New research has found that gaining even a little weight over the years is enough to affect the structure and function of the heart muscle, potentially increasing the long-term risk of heart failure.
A team from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas followed 1,262 adults with an average age of 44 for a period of seven years.
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All participants were free from heart disease and other conditions that put them at high risk for it. MRI scans of participants' hearts and various body fat measurements were taken both at the start of the study and again seven years later.
The researchers found those who gained as little as 5% during the seven years were more likely to have thickening and enlargement of the left ventricle — a well-established indicator of future heart failure.