According to a major study by American doctors, there is an increase in the risk of heart failure even with a little inactivity and overweight. According to the lead author of the study which was published in the Circulation December issue, Dr. Satish Kenchaiah, a person need not necessarily be obese to be prone to increased risk of heart failure.
According to Kenchaiah, a little bit of exercise significantly reduces heart failure risk. Kenchaiah is an epidemiologist who conducted this study at the Boston Women’s Hospital and at Brigham. He is now working with the US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
This extensive study spanned over two decades and involved around 21,000 doctors. The team studied in detail the effect of physical activity and overweight in heart failure. Heart failure risk is identified by measuring the ability of the heart to pump blood. Lesser ability usually is a forerunner to more serious coronary problems.
It is a well known fact that a person with a 30 body-mass index is considered obese and is at a high risk of heart failure. This study concentrated on an average body-mass index of 25 to 29.9. When the studies began, forty percent of the doctors were overweight and about five percent were obese.
Physical activity too showed similar results. Indulging in moderate exercising at least three times a month reduced the risk of heart failure by 18 percent, according to Kenchaiah. He added that those who worked out on a regular basis, at least five times a week saw a reduction in heart risk failure by 36 percent.
