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Being ‘fat but fit’ is a myth says a study
But research shows the risk of heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure rockets as body mass goes beyond 22. Risk also shoots up the more fat someone carries around their waist, according to findings published in the European Heart Journal today.
Guidelines suggest a body mass between 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy, 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight while 30 or more is considered obese.
Although experts say being overweight increases heart disease and cancer risk, other studies have suggested it might not have any effect.
But researchers behind the latest study said their results put the matter to bed once and for all.
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Obesity is a huge cause of heart disease and death
Any public misconception of a potential protective effect of fat on heart and stroke risks should be challenged. This is the largest study that provides evidence against the obesity paradox in healthy people.
Study leader Dr Stamatina Iliodromiti, of the University of Glasgow, said: “Any public misconception of a potential protective effect of fat on heart and stroke risks should be challenged.
“This is the largest study that provides evidence against the obesity paradox in healthy people.
“It is possible that the story may be different for those with pre-existing disease because there is evidence that in cancer patients, for instance, being slightly overweight is associated with lower risk, especially as cancer and its treatments can lead to unhealthy weight loss.
“By maintaining a healthy BMI of around 22 to 23 healthy people can minimise their risk of developing or dying from heart disease.
“The less fat, especially around their abdomen, they have, the lower the risk of future heart disease.”
The latest study involved 296,535 adults of white European descent who were healthy at the time they enrolled. Scientists found those with a body mass between 22 and 23 had the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease.
As BMI increased above 22, risk increased by 13 per cent for every 5.2 increase in women and 4.3 in men.
Compared to women and men with waist circumferences of 74cms [29ins] and 83cms [32.6ins] respectively, risk increased by 16 per cent in women and 10 per cent in men for every 12.6cm [5ins] and 11.4cm [4.5ins] increase in waist circumference for women and men respectively.
Similar increases in risk were witnesses when the researchers looked at waist-to-hip and waist-to-height ratios and percentage body fat, reliable ways to gauge the amount of fat a person carries, known as adiposity.
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Your BMI remains a good indicator of health
Study co-author Professor Naveed Sattar said: “We know many cannot get to such low body mass so the message is, whatever your BMI, especially when in the overweight or obese range, losing a few kilos or more if possible, will only improve your health.
“There are no downsides to losing weight intentionally and the health professions needs to get better at helping people lose weight.”
The findings come after experts warned junk foods like pizzas, ready meals, cakes and crisps increase the risk of cancer which kills 162,000 Britons every year.
Danger lurks in sugary snacks, cereals and reconstituted meat products containing high levels of sugar, fat and salt, but lacking vitamins and fibre, particularly pre-packaged bread, ready-to-eat desserts, meatballs and chicken nuggets and artificially sweetened fizzy drinks.
Studies show a 10 per cent increase in the proportion of “ultra-processed foods” in the diet was associated with a 12 per cent increased risk of cancer. Cancer Research UK has warned that being overweight is the biggest preventable cause of the disease after smoking and is linked to 13 types of the disease.
Dr Iliodromiti added: “Even within the normal BMI category of between 18.5 and 25, risk increases beyond a BMI of 22 to 23.
“The other adiposity measures show that the leaner the person the lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and this must be a public message, that healthy individuals should maintain a lean physique to minimise their risk.”
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Coronary heart disease – the cause of heart attacks and angina – is one of the UK’s biggest killers, and remains the leading cause of death worldwide.
“The findings from this study contribute to the overwhelming evidence there is no such thing as healthy obesity. It shows that being obese increases a person’s risk of developing heart disease, even if they are otherwise healthy.
“The take-home message here is that maintaining a healthy body weight is a key step towards maintaining a healthy heart.”
