Where You Carry fat Matters Most for Heart Health
It’s not just how much fat you have,but where you store it that significantly impacts your heart health. New research from Imperial College London reveals that certain types of fat, notably around the organs and within muscles, can accelerate heart aging, even in physically active individuals.
The study,involving over 21,000 British participants,utilized advanced MRI scans to determine each person’s cardiovascular age - a measure of the biological age of the heart and blood vessels compared to chronological age.
Researchers found that visceral fat, the fat surrounding abdominal organs, was the strongest predictor of accelerated heart aging in both men and women. Fat infiltrating muscle tissue and accumulating in the liver also contributed to a higher cardiovascular age.
Unlike simple fat storage, these types of fat are metabolically active, releasing inflammatory substances that directly harm the heart and blood vessels. This active tissue excretes harmful compounds, driving up cardiovascular risk.
Exercise Offers Protection, But Isn’t a Guarantee
While physical activity is beneficial, it doesn’t entirely negate the risks associated with unfavorable fat distribution.The study explained why some seemingly fit individuals develop heart problems, while others with higher overall body fat remain healthy. Importantly, sporty individuals with overweight had a lower cardiovascular age than their unathletic, overweight counterparts.
the research also highlights the limitations of using Body Mass Index (BMI) as a predictor of heart health. The study showed that 31% of women classified as overweight by BMI actually had normal total fat mass, and for men, this figure was 11%.BMI doesn’t account for how fat is distributed, meaning individuals with the same BMI can have vastly different health risks.
This study underscores the importance of considering fat distribution, not just total weight, when assessing cardiovascular health.
Source: European Heart journal (https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf553)
