A study presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, ENDO 2024, has found that men under age 65 and women under age 50 who have had obesity or weight management issues for 10 years have a higher risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke. However, researchers reported that older adults – women over 50 and men over 65 – did not have an increased risk based on overweight and obesity. Some experts suggest that the obesity paradox, which posits that extra weight has a protective effect on older adults, may help explain why there was not an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in the older population.
The study analyzed data from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, looking at health information for over 100,000 women and over 20,000 men with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25. They also examined heart attack and stroke records between 2000 and 2020, finding that there were 12,048 cardiovascular events during the study period. For women under 50 and men under 65 with obesity for 10 years or more, there was a 25% to 60% increase in the risk of heart attack and stroke. However, for women older than 50 and men older than 65, there was not an increased risk.
The researchers concluded that early obesity treatment is key for better cardiovascular health outcomes. Dr. Andrew Turchin, the study’s lead author, emphasized the importance of timely intervention in preventing obesity-related complications and improving patient outcomes. Dr. Sean Heffron, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Health, noted that obesity severity and duration impact health conditions differently. He pointed out that younger individuals with obesity are at a higher risk due to the longer duration of obesity, while older individuals may have some protective benefits of extra weight.
The study highlights how obesity impacts different age groups, with younger individuals facing a higher risk of disease burden due to the longer duration of obesity. On the other hand, older individuals may benefit from the protective effects of extra weight. The obesity paradox suggests that while overweight or obese individuals are at greater risk of developing heart problems, those with higher BMIs may be less likely to die once they have developed heart conditions. Various explanations have been proposed, including the idea that some extra fat is protective against further health problems in individuals who have developed severe and chronic illnesses.
Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, an interventional cardiologist, noted that older adults with extra weight may have better cardiovascular outcomes, indicating a level of robustness and healthiness. However, he emphasized the importance of developing heart-healthy lifestyles in younger years to prevent obesity-related complications later in life. Maintaining a healthy weight and following healthy eating principles are key components of heart health, reinforcing the importance of early intervention in obesity treatment for better long-term outcomes.
