Categories
Change Password!
Reset Password!
Higher fat mass, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio increase 10-year CHD risk, while higher fat-free mass significantly reduces this risk.
A landmark analysis from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) revealed that not all weight is equal when it comes to heart health. The study, which followed more than 6,800 adults between ages 45 and 85, found that body composition—specifically the balance between fat and muscle—may be a much more accurate predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD) than the commonly used body mass index (BMI).
For assessing obesity, BMI (a basic ratio of weight to height) has traditionally been the go-to metric. However, it does not differentiate between fat and muscle or provide insight into where fat is stored in the body. These limitations have aroused mixed results in studies exploring the link between obesity and cardiovascular events. To address this, the MESA researchers employed bioelectrical impedance analysis to estimate volunteers’ fat mass and fat-free mass (FFM) at the study’s start. They then analyzed these alongside other indicators like waist-to-height ratio, waist circumference, and BMI to see how each predicted the risk of experiencing a major CHD event over 10 years.
Key findings:
The findings emphasize the importance of looking beyond weight alone when assessing cardiovascular risk. According to the study authors, strategies aimed at reducing fat mass—particularly around the waist—and increasing muscle mass could be more useful in preventing heart disease than simply focusing on weight loss.
These results bolster calls for clinicians to adopt substitute metrics, such as body composition analysis and waist-to-height ratio, in routine practice. Simple modifications, like including waist measurements during annual check-ups or using bioelectrical impedance analysis devices in primary care settings, could remarkably improve early detection of cardiovascular risk.
European Journal of Preventive Cardiology
Examining the relationship between anthropometric and body composition measures with coronary heart disease events: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis
Amier Haidar et al.
Comments (0)