Mohith Agadi
Obesity is a huge problem the world over, and it has far reaching effects on the human body. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Physical activity can however offset some of the negative effects of excess weight, especially in middle aged or elderly people.
According to a research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a marked decrease in risk has been noted in overweight people when they exercised regularly. The study had 5344 subjects who were 55 years or older. At the baseline, none of them had cardiovascular disease when they entered the Rottardam study.
The researchers collected data on their food habits, family history of heart problems, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, physical activity and BMI. Then over the next 15 years, the subjects were observed and follow ups were conducted. The participants were divided into six categories based on their weight as well as level of physical activity. The group consisting of individuals with normal weight and high physical activity was considered the reference group.
In the follow up period 16% of the participants suffered a cardiovascular event. It was noticed that overweight and obese subjects with low activity levels were at a higher risk of suffering from cardiovascular problems compared to the reference group. But overweight or obese subjects didn’t show any increased risk for cardiovascular episodes if they had high levels of physical activity. There was no connection found between BMI and increased CVD risk.
“In the overall population we found that physical activity was protective for cardiovascular risk,” said the author of the study Dr Dhana. “Overweight and obese participants were not at increased cardiovascular risk compared to those of normal weight. We do not refute the risk associated with obesity in the general population even though we did not find it in this older group. BMI may not be the best way to measure adiposity risk in the elderly.”
Ananya Dutta
