Did you know that there is an association between abdominal fat and stroke risk? It’s true!
It turns out that where you carry extra pounds on your body may determine some health risks. While all extra weight poses potential health problems, some types of fat in different places on the body can pose bigger and more serious problems. One example is the association between abdominal fat and stroke risk.
Keep reading to learn more about this link. That way, you can take steps to regain a better state of health if you do have a lot of abdominal fat that’s putting your well-being at risk.
The Association Between Abdominal Fat and Stroke Risk
According to WebMD, being obese or overweight can increase your risk of heart attack and heart disease. But, in addition to that, researchers have found that individuals with a larger waist circumference, which is more than 40 inches in men or 35 inches in women, are at a higher risk of having a stroke too. How much higher is the risk of stroke? Four times higher than those who have typical waistline measurements!
In other words, people who carry most of their extra weight around their waist and in the abdominal area are more likely to have a life ending or life-changing stroke. This means losing weight is even more important for such individuals and should be a priority for the sake of a longer life.
Who Should Pay Close Attention to the Association Between Abdominal Fat and Stroke Risk?
Everyone should be aware of the association between abdominal fat and stroke risk. And, we should all take steps to prevent the accumulation of fat in the body, particularly in the abdominal area. However, certain people are at an even greater risk, so they should take action right away.
Of course, those that already are carrying extra weight in the abdominal area should begin taking steps to slim down, and they should also consider talking to their doctor about the best steps to take to quickly reduce their abdominal fat so they can reduce their risk of complications like stroke.
Individuals who have a family history of stroke should also pay close attention to their weight loss goals. Without taking the time to lose as much as they can, they are putting themselves at high risk to have a stroke. These are usually something that you associate with old age, but that is not always the case.
People can have strokes in there 40s, 30s, and even 20s if they are in poor health. If this is you, do what you can to lose weight. Do not forget to add motion to your routine, as exercise can not only help you lose weight, it can help lower your chances for stroke as well.
Should You Use BMI to Evaluate Your Health and Weight?
Some use the BMI (body mass index) to determine if someone is obese or overweight, and this also can indicate risk for stroke and heart attack. However, recent findings have suggested that the ratio of the stomach fat to the rest of the body is a more accurate indication of stroke risk. In other words, it isn’t really enough to just look at how much fat you are carrying throughout your body; you need to look specifically at how much fat is in the abdominal area.
That means someone with an apple figure – rather than a pear shape – is at a much higher risk to have a stroke due to excess body fat. BMI, along with risk factors like smoking and inactivity, can tell if someone is at risk, but the waistline is a better indication to go by.
Therefore, one of the ways to keep track of all of this is to not only weigh yourself on a scale, but also measure your waistline on a regular basis to see if it’s getting bigger.
Take Steps to Avoid the Association Between Abdominal Fat and Stroke Risk!
Not only does a larger waist line signal higher stroke risk, it also signals higher cardiovascular health problems. This could include all types of heart disease.
Those who are considered obese or overweight (up to 66% if the U.S. population at this point) should pay attention to waist size and dieting. No matter what your risk, being overweight is not good for the body. Losing just 10 percent of the body weight will greatly improve health and lower the chances of having a deadly stroke or heart attack in the future. Add another 10 percent and your odds are even better.
Over time, with the right efforts, you can start to reduce the risk of health complications that can arise from carrying excess weight, and from having too much fat in the abdominal area, in particular. Stay consistent, stay positive, and work with your doctor whenever you need extra help and guidance.
Recent Comments