1. PBRC
2009
Publication # 63
Obesity and the
Heart
How to Determine Whether or Not You Are
Overweight or Obese
The Center for Disease Step 3 with 703, and you
Inside this issue: Control determines the will have your body mass
healthiness of your weight by index.
calculating your body mass Example:
Being Overweight 2
index, or BMI. This is a simple
equation that you can even do Step 1. Weight: 184 pounds
Why is Obesity Such a 2 at home to find out if you are Step 2. Height: 72 inches
Big Problem Worldwide? at a healthy weight.
Height squared is 72 x 72 =
Obesity 3 Here is a Step-By-Step way to Obese, which is a BMI
5184.
calculate one’s BMI: between 30 and 39.9
Step 3. 184/5184 = 0.035
1. Determine your weight in Morbidly Obese, which is a
About Our Company 4
Step 4. 0.035 x 703 = 24.9 BMI of 40 or greater.
pounds.
There are 5 weight classifica- In the example, this person is
2. Determine your height
tions. They include: at the top of the normal
and square it (multiply the
height in inches with it- Underweight, which is a BMI weight.
self). of 18.5 or less.
3. Divide the number you Normal, which is a BMI
obtained from Step 1 with between 18.5 and 24.9.
the number you Overweight, which is a BMI
determined in Step 2. between 25 and 29.9.
4. Multiply the number from
Special points of in-
terest:
Calculating BMI
Being overweight or
obese can harm your
The Cost of Convenience
health
Convenience has schools due to increased need of the conveniences available
Health Problems contributed to ready made for classes on subject matter to us and choose wisely when
commonly associated meals, instant access to deemed more important than it comes to food choices. Look
with Obesity. shopping via the internet, and physical activity. for smaller portion sizes and
24-hour entertainment in our The convenience factor more fresh fruits and veg-
living rooms. At the same together with other factors etables daily. Include 30
time, many of our jobs involve contributes to the rising minutes of physical activity at
sitting at a computer most of obesity rates in adults and least five days a week and make
the day with minimal activity, children. sure the children have 60
while children no longer have minutes of physical activity
recess and physical activity in People can still take advantage daily.

2. Page 2 Obesity and the Heart Publication # 63
Being Overweight
A BMI between 25 and This leads to increased of coronary heart disease
29.9 is in the overweight risk of heart attack, is greatest for women who
category. congestive heart failure, tend to live a sedentary
sudden cardiac death, lifestyle, and who have
According to the World angina, and abnormal large waist-to-hip ratios.
Health Organization, in heart rhythm.
2005, there were approxi- Being overweight may be
mately 1.6 Billion adults Being overweight and due to poor diet, genetics,
that were overweight. obese has been connected overeating, alcoholism,
to certain cancers. metabolic disorders, poor
Those who are overweight sleep habits, stress, lack of
have a 34% greater risk of Women who gain nearly
physical activity, or med-
developing heart failure, 45 pounds or more after
ication.
when compared to a age 18, are twice as likely
normal weight person. to be diagnosed with Children (who are over-
breast cancer after men- weight or obese) have 80
Higher BMI is a risk opause, when com- percent likelihood of
factor for hypertension, pared to those who main- being obese if their
diabetes mellitus, and tain a stable weight. parents are obese.
dyslipidemia, all of which
increase the risk of a heart Approximately 11 percent
attack. of heart failure cases
among women are
The overweight and obese attributed to obesity alone.
“Those who are have an increased
overweight have a 34% incidence of heart disease. Studies show that the risk
greater risk of
developing heart failure,
when compared to a
normal weight person” Common Causes of Obesity
The prevalence of energy- transportation, and increasing sedentary people.
dense foods, which are high in urbanization. Regular physical activity is a
sugar and fat, but low in The decrease in physical key factor in achieving and
vitamins, minerals, and other activity can lead to harmful maintaining a healthy body
micronutrients, contributes to physiological changes such as weight for adults and children.
the overall high rates of obesity reduced fitness and inability to
worldwide. Sedentary lifestyle is defined as
perform in a stressful physical one with no physical activity
In addition, reduced phys- activity sessions such as or irregular physical activity.
ical activity and increased climbing a flight of stairs.
hours of television viewing in Individuals who are active
both adults and children con- and expend from 500 to 3500
tribute to a sedentary lifestyle. calories per week in physical
According to the World activity can expect to live long-
Health Organization, there is a er than people who live a more
trend toward sedentary lifestyle sedentary lifestyle.
worldwide. This is due to a Overall, mortality rates from all
many variables, including: causes of death are lower in
sedentary forms of work, physically active people than in
changing modes of

3. Obesity and the Heart Publication # 63 Page 3
Facts About Obesity
Obesity is defined as heart failure risk. higher risk of developing
having excessive body fat. breast cancer.
Increased fat deposits in
Obesity effects all body the waist area can lead to Women who are obese
systems, especially the high blood pressure, high have a three to four times
heart, lungs, and the blood cholesterol, heart greater chance of being
musculoskeletal system. disease, diabetes, and diagnosed with endometri-
stroke. al cancer, in compari-
According to the World son to women with a low-
Health Organization, there Obesity can lead to
er BMI.
were at least 400 million reduced HDL (High
adults that were obese in Density Lipoprotein) A study, published in the
2005. levels, the “good” Journal of Occupational
cholesterol. This increases and Environmental Medi-
Obesity causes at least the risk of heart disease cine, found that obesity
300,000 deaths per year in and stroke. increases absenteeism at a
the United States alone! cost of $4.3 billion per
The obese have a 104% year in the United States.
Obesity costs healthcare greater risk of developing
almost $100 Billion per heart failure, when com- Obese women are 61
year in the US. pared to someone who is “Those who are obese,
percent more likely to
Obesity increases the risk of normal body weight. miss time from work, have a 104% greater
of cardiovascular disease. compared to women of risk of developing heart
Obesity is commonly failure, when compared
associated with left healthy weight.
The effects of obesity on to someone who is of
the cardiovascular system ventricular hypertrophy Treatment of obesity normal body weight.”
can begin in childhood. and dilation; both are includes getting at least 30
The more obese a child is, known precursors of heart minutes of moderate
the more likely she/he will failure. intensity exercise daily,
develop some form of Obese people who live a consuming less calories
cardiovascular disease as an sedentary lifestyle and than is expended, eating a
adult. smoke, have a higher risk diet high in fiber and low
for a coronary heart in fat, consuming more
Obesity is not always diet
disease event than a lean, fruits and vegetables, as
related. It may be a result
non-smoking person. well as whole grains, and
of genetics, a pre-existing
using vegetable oils
health condition, or due to Obesity has been known (unsaturated fat) rather
medication. to be associated with than animal fats.
Obesity is associated with patients who have
Individuals who have
hypertension, diabetes, gallbladder disease. Remember:
maintained at least a 30
pulmonary hypertension, Obesity and rapid weight pound weight loss for one A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered
as well as musculoskeletal loss in obese people may year or longer adhere to overweight.
difficulties. also cause gallstones. the following*: A BMI of 30 to 39.9 is considered obese
Obese people are more apt The risk for being 78% eat breakfast every day. And
to have high blood pres- diagnosed with esophageal 75% weigh themselves at
least once a week. A BMI of 40 or greater is considered
sure, which causes the cancer rises as BMI rises. morbidly obese
heart to work harder. 62% watch less than 10 hours
of TV per week.
Postmenopausal women
Obesity causes prolonged 90% exercise, on average,
who are obese (BMI= about 1 hour per day.
inflammation of the heart 30=39.9) tend to have a
tissue, which increases *National Weight Control Registry

4. PBRC
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
6400 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Phone : 225-763-2500
Please Visit Our Site:
www.pbrc.edu
About Pennington
The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a world-renowned nutrition
research center.
Mission:
To promote healthier lives through research and education in nutrition and pre- Promoting Healthier Lives
ventive medicine. Through Research and
The Pennington Center has several research areas, including: Education in Nutrition and
Clinical Obesity Research Preventive Medicine
Experimental Obesity
Functional Foods
Health and Performance Enhancement
Nutrition and Chronic Diseases
Nutrition and the Brain
Dementia, Alzheimer’s and healthy aging Pennington Nutrition Series No 63, 2009
Diet, exercise, weight loss and weight loss maintenance
Authors
The research fostered in these areas can have a profound impact on healthy
living and on the prevention of common chronic diseases, such as heart .disease,
cancer, diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis. Beth Kalicki
The Division of Education provides education and information to the scientific Heli J. Roy, PhD, RD
community and the public about research findings, training programs and re-
search areas, and coordinates educational events for the public on various health
issues. Division of Education
e invite people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the exciting research
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
studies being conducted at the Pennington Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. If
you would like to take part, visit the clinical trials web page at www.pbrc.edu or 12/09
call (225) 763-3000