obesity

Heartwire reports an interesting study that shows the relationship between body mass index (BMI), cardiorespiratory fitness, and blood pressure. Using records of more than 35,000 patients, researchers found that BMI was more closely associated with blood pressure than fitness. Only for those people with the lowest and highest BMI measurements did fitness make a difference. Otherwise, weight, as measured by BMI, was closely associated with blood pressure. People with normal weight had average systolic blood pressure (the top number of the BP reading) that was 12 mm Hg lower than people who were in the obese BMI range - 115 mm Hg versus 127 mm Hg. This compares with only an 6 mm Hg difference between the most fit versus the least fit individuals - 119 mm Hg to 125 mm Hg.

One limitation of this study is that 69% of the sample is white men.

Two new studies, both published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, point out the importance of weight loss for reducing high blood pressure - and the type of diet is important, too. In one study, researchers compared an Atkins low carb-type diet versus a low fat diet plus orlistat, a weight-loss drug, in 146 overweight or obese people. Both groups lost weight and had improved cholesterol as well. But the low carb diet group also saw reduced blood pressure.

The other study, called ENCORE, found that the DASH diet, recommended by the American Heart Association, combined with regular exercise, promoted lower blood pressure for people who are overweight or obese. Heartwire has more here.

The new Heart and Stroke Foundation Report Card on Canadian's Health highlights the looming crisis in heart health caused by the convergence of risk factors in new groups of people. Cardiovascular risk is usually associated with aging, but new research shows that younger and younger people are increasingly susceptible to risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and smoking that lead to heart attacks and stroke.

Between 1994 and 2005, rates of blood pressure among Canadians skyrocketed by 77%, diabetes by 45% and obesity by 18% - affecting both younger and older Canadians.

The people at highest risk are boomers in the their 50s and the cohort coming up right after them. Unless something drastic happens, lots of these folks will be heading into old age already with high blood pressure, overweight, and physically inactive.

The report advocates avoiding the consequences of this dire situation by implementing the reccomendations of the Canadian Heart Health Strategy.

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