Heart Health
Weight loss turns back the clock on heart disease
Aging is one heart disease risk factor we can't do anything about. But researchers predicted that between now and 2042, a nationwide 10% reduction in body mass index (a measure of body fat based on height and weight), shown by blue bars, would offset 80% of the projected rise in heart disease due to age (pink bars). The flip side is even weightier: a 10% population-wide increase in body mass index (red bars) would more than double the increase in heart disease cases expected due to age alone (American Journal of Medicine, September 2011).
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
