Obese adults who display no signs of CVD appear to have a significantly higher prevalence of coronary artery calcification compared with normal-weight adults.
“The risk of cardiovascular disease among obese individuals without obesity related metabolic abnormalities … is controversial,” researchers wrote in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Yoosoo Chang, MD, lead author of the study and professor at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital Total Healthcare Center for Cohort Studies in Seoul, said that obese individuals, who are considered ‘healthy’ because they don’t currently have heart disease risk factors, should not be assumed healthy by their doctors.
The researchers said that the findings shows that the presence of obesity is enough to increase a person’s risk of future heart disease and that the disease may already be starting to form in their body. It’s important that these people learn this while they still have time to change their diet and exercise habits to prevent a future cardiovascular event.
Agencies/Canadajournal