Now I’ll be the first to admit the dangers of obesity really aren’t news; we already know big folks (or as comedian, Gabriel Iglesias, likes to say “fluffy” folks) amongst us have more cardiac events, diabetes, and other health events. That said, researchers have taken the effects of obesity much deeper, and discovered just how much your health might be impacted. Let’s take a look at the study.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have the first large-scale evidence linking folks who are severely overweight to sustained and deadly inflammation of their hearts. The findings, published in the May 6, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, were culled from the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Researchers from MESA tested and then tracked the development of heart failure in an ethnically diverse group of nearly 7,000 men and women. The participants ranged in age from 45 to 84 years and have been followed for almost eight years – the study will terminate in 2012. 

Senior study investigator João Lima, M.D., had this to say, “The biological effects of obesity on the heart are quite profound. Even if obese people feel otherwise healthy, there are measurable and early chemical signs of damage to their heart, beyond the well-known implications for diabetes and high blood pressure.”

The chemicals Dr. Lima talks about are part of the body's reaction to disease processes. They give rise to symptoms such as changes in the small blood vessels of the heart. These chemicals also hasten the release of immune system cells that cause arteries and veins to leak fluid into nearby tissue. This causes inflammation, which can lead to a buildup of scar tissue.

The MESA study showed that obese participants had higher levels of interleukin 6, a chemical that excites white blood cells and causes inflammation, than non-obese participants.

When another chemical, C-reactive protein, was found at three times normal levels, study participants saw their risk of heart failure rise by a whopping 36 percent. Levels of C-reactive protein are also known to dramatically speed up inflammation and lead to widespread arterial damage.  Big folks take note: get your cRP levels measured!

Twenty percent higher than average blood levels of fibrinogen, a major player in heart muscle scarring, bumped up the risk of heart failure by 37 percent.

Interestingly, when the inflammatory protein levels were included in the scientists’ statistical analysis, the heightened risk from obesity disappeared.

“What this tells us is that both obesity and the inflammatory markers are closely tied to each other and to heart failure,” says lead researcher and senior Johns Hopkins cardiology research fellow, Hossein Bahrami, M.D., M.P.H.

Study results also show inflammation to be a probable accelerant to increased levels of albuminuria, a chemical best known for impairing kidney function. However, albuminuria also caused a 1,000 percent increase in developing a progressively weakening heart muscle among MESA participants

Bahrami had this to say, “The basic evidence is building the case that inflammation may be the chemical route by which obesity targets the heart, and that inflammation may play an important role in the increased risk of heart failure in obese people, especially those with the metabolic syndrome.”  I think Dr. Rodier would say “duh!”

Bahrami notes that previous studies, also done at Hopkins, have shown that even moderate exercise to lose abdominal fat dramatically offsets the harmful effects of metabolic syndrome on heart function. Now he’s singing Teri’s favorite tune, get moving!

How to Assess Obesity -- Is BMI Enough?

So how do you decide what really constitutes being too fat? By using the Body Mass Index (BMI)? Well, no, probably not. One reason would be because muscle weighs more than fat by an order of four to one. Oddly, the BMI doesn’t take this into account.

Then there are the myriad differences in individual body structures. (Take a look at these pictures of people and see how they fall on the BMI. Prepare to be shocked.)

But what happens if you come from good farmer stock and just happen to be a well-proportioned, but big example of Homo sapiens? Is it okay to revel in your big-boned, heavily muscled self? Probably -- as long as your blood work stays nice and tidy and you keep nasty abdominal fat at bay.

Just to be sure, rather than using strictly BMI tables as your guide, try a waist circumference test to measure your ratio of abdominal fat.

Support Heart Health and Keep Inflammation at Bay

If you're carrying extra pounds, consider a few Co-op staples to help support your heart and decrease of inflammation.

Heart Plus: Vitamin C can help reduce C-Reactive Protein levels mentioned above. The combination of vitamin C, L-lysine, and L-proline supports the healing of blood vessels, improved blood flow, and reduced cholesterol plaques (blockages).

Fish Oil: Anytime inflammation is involved, count on fish oil to help out. Fish oil is linked with decreased triglycerides, decreased atherosclerotic plaque, and lower blood pressure.

Magnesium: Magnesium helps keep muscles strong and nerves alert. Magnesium also helps keep cells strong -- of particular importance to those with ailing hearts and fragile tissues. Lastly, magnesium supports the heart's ability to expand and contract to pump blood efficiently.

Arthro 3: Granted, the name is a little distracting, but Indian curry spices, turmeric (curcumin) and boswellia, along with MSM, offer powerful anti-inflammatory protection, good for creaky joints but also for your heart, brain, and immune system. 

Teri recently shared with this kat a truly touching story about her visit with an Alzheimer's-afflicted friend. Teri wrote:

One of the beautiful people I got to meet along my journey of life was Alice Watson. From my earliest memories Alice was there.

As time passed we stayed friends almost like family. She loved me as a granddaughter. When I moved to Florida we stayed in touch. I would go to the tiny town of Federalsburg Maryland once a year and go visit with her.

The last time I went to visit Alice we had lunch together. I was staying with Mom and she recommended I make some egg salad to take. Mom also wanted me to know Alice had been having more challenges with Alzheimer's disease and she would repeat herself. She said don't be alarmed or try to correct her or tell her she had just asked the same question because it would just upset her. Remember you are going to visit with your friend be kind and enjoy your visit.

When I arrived she did remember me. I was really happy about that. We sat at the kitchen table where we had eaten scores of times before and I prepared the egg salad sandwiches and served them.

Alice asked, "Did you make this egg salad?" I replied, "Yes, do you like it?" "It is not as good as your mothers hers is really the best." We chatted for a few more minutes and she asked, "Did you make this egg salad?" I replied again, "Yes what do you think?" "I can tell it is not as good as your mothers, she really makes the best."

I was remembering the words mom had said and we continued our conversation. Shortly Alice asked me again, "Teri did you make this egg salad?" I said, "No, Mom made it do you like it?" To that she replied, "I could tell it is very good, you know she makes the best egg salad." I smiled and later realized she did not ask me again who had made the egg salad.

I learned that day my friend was still there the old memories from when I was a baby were still fresh in her mind, we chatted about her beloved Atwood and the day they first met, she told me she knew from the first time she saw him he was going to be her husband. She remembered funny times from crab feasts many years ago; we laughed about Jim the dog that smoked a pipe. It was a beautiful day, and my heart was filled with old memories I had forgotten but she had not. Today was not so clear for my friend but events of 70 years ago were fresh and new.

I left that day with a special treasure, new memories.

Touching, eh, even for this old kat!  ^..^