A recent New York Times article highlights a study that shed light on risks specific to overweight and obese women. This study found that even being slightly overweight can increase your chances of heart problems.
- Investigators followed 116,000 subjects between the ages of 35 and 50 for 8 years, and found that the risk heart attacks for mild to moderately obese women was 80% greater than the risk for the thinnest women in the group.
- 70% of heart disease in obese women is attributed to excess fat, while 40% of heart disease in all women is due to excess fat. The leading cause of death in women over the age of 60 is now heart attacks.
- Even at recommended body weights according to tables, there is still an increased risk of heart disease compared to thinner women.
- Risks of heart disease from smoking increase when women are overweight.
See the full article here.
