What is cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular disease is a collective term for diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels. Common examples include heart attack, stroke, angina and heart failure.
Many cardiovascular diseases are linked to atherosclerosis, a process in which fat, cholesterol and inflammatory changes gradually build up in the walls of the blood vessels. Over time, the vessels can become narrower and less elastic, reducing blood flow to the body's organs.
If a blood vessel supplying the heart or brain becomes blocked, this can lead to a heart attack or stroke. The risk of cardiovascular disease is influenced by several factors, including blood pressure, blood lipids, blood sugar, smoking, physical activity and body weight.
How does overweight affect the heart and blood vessels?
Overweight and obesity affect the cardiovascular system in several ways. As body weight increases, the heart needs to supply a greater amount of tissue with blood, which can increase the strain on the heart over time. At the same time, overweight often occurs together with other risk factors, such as high blood pressure, elevated blood lipids, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Abdominal obesity in particular is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Adipose tissue around the internal organs is metabolically active and affects the body's hormonal and inflammatory processes. This can contribute to impaired blood sugar regulation, elevated blood lipids and other changes that increase the risk of atherosclerosis.
Because health risk does not depend solely on body weight, fat distribution, blood pressure, blood lipids and blood sugar control are also important factors to consider when assessing cardiovascular health.
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in overweight and obesity
Overweight and obesity often occur together with other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, elevated blood lipids, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. When several of these risk factors occur at the same time, this is sometimes referred to as metabolic syndrome.
Abdominal obesity in particular is linked to an increased risk of metabolic ill health. Adipose tissue around the internal organs affects the body's metabolism and can contribute to changes in blood sugar regulation, blood lipids and blood pressure.
Insulin resistance means that the body's cells respond less effectively to insulin, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. At the same time, changes in blood lipids are often seen, such as elevated triglycerides and lower levels of HDL cholesterol. Together, these factors can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.
Myth or fact? Common misconceptions about heart health and weight
Myth: Only weight or BMI determines the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Fact: Body weight is an important risk factor, but the risk is also influenced by how fat is distributed in the body. Abdominal obesity is more strongly linked to cardiovascular disease and insulin resistance than subcutaneous fat on, for example, the hips and thighs. Blood pressure, blood lipids, blood sugar and lifestyle habits also affect the overall risk.
Myth: It is too late to improve heart health if you already have overweight or obesity.
Fact: Health benefits can be achieved at many stages of life. Weight loss, increased physical activity, stopping smoking and other healthy lifestyle habits can improve several risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as blood pressure, blood lipids and blood sugar control. Even moderate weight loss can lead to significant improvements in metabolic health.
Long-term effects of weight loss
For people with overweight or obesity, weight loss is an important part of treatment to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies show that a weight loss of just 5 to 10 per cent of body weight can improve several important risk factors, including blood pressure, blood lipids, blood sugar control and insulin resistance.
As the amount of body fat decreases, metabolic health often improves. Insulin sensitivity can increase while the strain on the heart decreases. For people with overweight or obesity, this can contribute to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other related diseases.
Treatment is often based on a combination of healthy lifestyle habits, regular physical activity and, when needed, medication. For some people with obesity, modern weight-loss medicines can be a complement to lifestyle changes. Together, these measures can contribute to improved cardiovascular health and increased quality of life.
3 steps for a healthier heart
Healthy lifestyle habits
A diet with plenty of vegetables, wholegrains, pulses, fruit and other nutritious foods can contribute to better blood pressure, blood lipids and blood sugar control. If you smoke, stopping smoking is one of the most important measures for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Regular physical activity
Both cardiovascular exercise and strength training have positive effects on cardiovascular health. Regular physical activity can contribute to improved fitness, lower blood pressure, better insulin sensitivity and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Adults are recommended to get at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
Monitor your risk factors
Regular checks of blood pressure, blood lipids, blood sugar and body weight can help detect risk factors early. For people with overweight, obesity or other metabolic risk factors, medical treatment and professional support can be an important complement to lifestyle changes.
Frequently asked questions about cardiovascular disease and overweight (FAQ)
Can weight loss reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease?
Yes. For people with overweight or obesity, weight loss can improve several important risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including blood pressure, blood lipids, blood sugar control and insulin resistance.
The earlier risk factors are detected and treated, the greater the opportunity to reduce the risk of future cardiovascular disease.
Weight loss is therefore an important part of both preventive treatment and long-term cardiovascular health.
How much weight do I need to lose to improve cardiovascular health?
Even relatively small weight loss can have positive effects on cardiovascular health in obesity. Research shows that a weight loss of 5 to 10 per cent of body weight can often improve blood pressure, blood lipids, blood sugar control and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Greater weight loss can provide additional health benefits, particularly for people with several metabolic risk factors. At the same time, smaller and lasting changes are also valuable for health.
The aim is therefore not only to lose weight, but to achieve weight loss that is sustainable over time and contributes to better cardiovascular health.
Can GLP-1 medicines reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease?
Yes. Studies have shown that semaglutide can reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events in people with established cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity.
The effect depends on several factors, including weight loss, improved blood sugar, lower blood pressure and other metabolic improvements. GLP-1 medicines are not suitable for everyone, and whether treatment is appropriate is determined through an individual medical assessment.
Why is abdominal fat more dangerous for blood vessels than other fat?
Not all body fat affects health in the same way. Fat stored around the internal organs in the abdomen, known as visceral fat or abdominal fat, is more strongly linked to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance than subcutaneous fat on, for example, the hips and thighs.
Abdominal fat is metabolically active and affects the body's hormonal and inflammatory processes. This can contribute to elevated blood pressure, impaired blood lipids, insulin resistance and other changes that increase the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
Therefore, it is not only body weight that is important for health, but also how fat is distributed in the body. An increased amount of abdominal fat generally means a higher cardiometabolic risk than if the same amount of fat is mainly stored as subcutaneous fat.
What type of exercise is best for cardiovascular health?
Both cardiovascular exercise and strength training have positive effects on cardiovascular health. Cardiovascular exercise, such as walking, cycling or swimming, can improve fitness and contribute to lower blood pressure. Strength training helps preserve muscle mass and can improve blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity.
For most people, a combination of cardiovascular and strength training provides the greatest health benefits. Regular physical activity can also make weight loss easier and reduce several risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Can exercise reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease even if I do not lose weight?
Yes. Regular physical activity can improve cardiovascular health even if body weight does not change significantly. Exercise can contribute to lower blood pressure, improved blood lipids, better blood sugar control and increased fitness, all of which are important factors in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
For people with overweight or obesity, weight loss can provide additional health benefits, but physical activity has positive effects even without major changes in weight. Regular movement is therefore an important part of good cardiovascular health.
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