A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that excess pericardial fat increases the risk of heart failure. This problem is more dangerous for women.
Many people know that excess weight is risk factor for heart disease. In the new work, scientists have shown that excess fat deposits around the heart (pericardial fat) may play a role in this risk.
The study involved about 7,000 people aged 45-87 years, none of them had signs of heart disease at the beginning of observation. Doctors gave each person a CT scan of their chest to assess the amount of fat around their hearts. Scientists considered 70 and 120 cubic centimeters of pericardial fat to be excessive in women. Less fat was considered normal.
The participants were followed for 17 years, during which time almost 400 of them developed heart failure. In this condition, the heart cannot pump blood effectively. Its risk was higher in people with excess fat deposits around the heart. After scientists took into account all the additional risk factors for this condition (smoking, sedentary lifestyle and others), it turned out that pericardial fat increases the risk of heart failure in women by 100%, and in men by 50%.
“It’s not just the total amount of fat, but also the concentrated deposition around the heart. Assessing health requires more than just body weight,” said Satish Kenchaiah of Mount Sinai Hospital, an author of the study.
The volume of fat around the heart was moderately associated with overweight, obesity, and the amount of abdominal fat. Excess amounts were associated with the risk of heart failure regardless of these indicators. Excess pericardial fat was present in 10% of normal-weight participants.
Satish Kenchaiah of Mount Sinai Hospital, an author of the study, said exercise reduced both total body fat and the volume around the heart. He recommended spending 30-45 minutes a day briskly walking and trying to take at least 10,000 steps a day. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity (walking, dancing) or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise.
For overweight and obese people, regular weight loss will help reduce the amount of pericardial fat.
In a comment to CNN, nutritionist Kristen Smith, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, said that you can reduce the risk of excess fat with a healthy diet: “It is important to follow a heart-healthy diet that emphasizes fruits and vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains, seafood, nuts, legumes, and eating fewer meats.”