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Benefits
of physical activity may outweigh impact of obesity on cardiovascular disease

Date:

March 1, 2017

Source:

European Society of
Cardiology

Summary:

The benefits of physical activity may
outweigh the impact of overweight and obesity on cardiovascular disease in
middle-aged and elderly people, according to research. The observational study
was conducted in more than 5,000 people aged 55 years and older who were
followed-up for 15 years.

The benefits of physical
activity may outweigh the impact of overweight and obesity on cardiovascular
disease in middle-aged and elderly people, according to research published in
the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. The observational study
was conducted in more than 5,000 people aged 55 years and older who were
followed-up for 15 years.

“Overweight
and obesity is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and it
is recommended to lose weight,” said author Dr Klodian Dhana, a
postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University
Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. “But in the elderly this is
slightly different because weight loss, especially unintentional, is associated
with muscle loss and death.”

“Physical activity
is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease regardless of
age,” he continued. “We investigated the combined impact of body mass
index (BMI) and physical activity on cardiovascular disease in the middle age
to elderly population.”

The study included 5,344
individuals aged 55 to 97 years of age (average 70 years) who participated in
the Rotterdam Study and were free of cardiovascular disease at baseline.
Information about BMI, physical activity, smoking, alcohol use, diet,
education, and family history of premature heart attack was collected during
the enrolment period in 1997 to 2001.

Participants were
categorised by BMI: normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2)
and obese (>30 kg/m2); and physical activity (low/high) which was below and
above the median in the study population. The group was followed from 1997 to
2012 for cardiovascular events (heart attack and stroke).

During the 15 year
follow-up, 16% of participants had a cardiovascular event. When analysed alone,
physical activity was associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular
disease regardless of BMI category. There was no association between BMI alone
and cardiovascular disease.

“In the overall
population we found that physical activity was protective for cardiovascular
risk,” said Dr Dhana. “Overweight and obese participants were not at
increased cardiovascular risk compared to those of normal weight. We do not
refute the risk associated with obesity in the general population even though
we did not find it in this older group. BMI may not be the best way to measure
adiposity risk in the elderly.”

The researchers analysed
the joint effect of physical activity and BMI. Compared to normal weight people
with high physical activity levels (the ideal), overweight or obese individuals
with high levels of physical activity were not at increased risk of
cardiovascular disease, but overweight or obese people with low levels of
physical activity had 1.33 and 1.35 times higher risk for developing
cardiovascular disease, respectively.

“Our results show
that physical activity plays a crucial role in the health of middle age to
elderly people,” said Dr Dhana. “Those who are overweight and obese
without adequate physical activity are at higher risk of developing
cardiovascular disease.”

Overweight and obesity
exert harmful effects through adipose tissue which accelerates the
atherosclerotic process and increases cardiovascular risk. Physical activity
lowers the harmful effects of atherosclerosis by reducing the stabilisation of
plaques on blood vessels and reducing the heart’s oxygen demand.

“People who engage
in high levels of physical activity are protected from the harmful effects of
adipose tissue on cardiovascular disease,” said Dr Dhana. “This may
be why we found that the beneficial impact of physical activity on
cardiovascular disease outweighs the negative impact of BMI.”

The Rotterdam Study was
an active population, with the ‘low’ and ‘high’ groups doing two and four hours
of daily activity. This included biking and walking to the shops and housework.
Dr Dhana said the important point was that the study compared the two groups
and found that more activity was better for health.

“Any physical
activity is positive for cardiovascular health and in elderly people of all
weights walking, biking and housework are good ways to keep moving,” said
Dr Dhana. “European guidelines recommend 150 minutes a week of moderate
intensity physical activity to decrease the risk of cardiovascular
disease.”

Story Source:

Materials provided by European Society of Cardiology. Note: Content may be
edited for style and length.

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