Weight and Atherosclerosis

Being overweight or obese increases the risk of atherosclerosis and CVD. Obesity is linked to high blood pressure, high blood LDL and type 2 diabetes, all of which make atheroma formation more likely.Body mass changes according to energy balance. If energy intake is greater than energy output, the excess energy is stored as fat and body mass increases.Two indicators are used to assess whether a person is a healthy weight.Body mass index (BMI):BMI = body mass (kg) ÷ height² (m²)A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 kg m^-2 is considered healthy, 25 to 29.9 is overweight and 30 or above is obese.Worked example: a man of mass 95 kg is 1.80 m tall. BMI = 95 ÷ 1.80² = 95 ÷ 3.24 = 29.3 kg m^-2, so he is overweight.BMI does not distinguish fat from muscle, so a muscular athlete may have a high BMI while being healthy.Waist-to-hip ratio:waist-to-hip ratio = waist circumference ÷ hip circumferenceFat stored around the abdomen (an apple shape) carries a higher risk of CVD than fat stored around the hips. A ratio above about 1.0 in men or 0.85 in women suggests increased risk.