Even Temporary Weight Loss Beneficial to Heart

The longer the time spent obese or overweight, the poorer the cardiovascular health
Even Temporary Weight Loss Beneficial to Heart

THURSDAY, May 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Longer adult exposure to higher than normal weight has a cumulative, adverse effect on cardiovascular health, according to a study published online May 21 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

Marietta Charakida, Ph.D., from the University College London, and colleagues analyzed data from living participants of the National Survey of Health and Development Study (March 1946) who obtained a follow-up clinical assessment at age 60 to 64 years. Weight was classified in childhood and at ages 36, 43, 53, and 60 to 64 years.

The researchers found that, based on the 1,273 participants included in the analysis, overweight and obesity were associated with higher carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) and systolic blood pressure than that seen in normal-weight individuals. Duration of exposure to adult adiposity was associated with increased cIMT, systolic blood pressure, leptin, prevalence of diabetes, and reduced adiponectin (P < 0.0001 for all). Childhood overweight had little additional effect. Compared to those who never lost weight, individuals who dropped a body mass index category in adulthood had lower cIMT and leptin concentrations, even when this change was not maintained.

"Longer exposure to high adiposity in adulthood had a cumulative adverse effect on cardiovascular phenotype in later life," the authors write.

One author disclosed financial ties to the medical device and pharmaceutical industries.

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