Body Weight Contributes to Heart Disease

Being overweight can contribute to the development of heart disease. The heart has to work harder in people that carry more weight than those who are slim. This puts a strain on the heart of the overweight person. Someone who is overweight may also have a higher bad cholesterol level, higher blood pressure and an increased risk of diabetes.
Having high blood pressure or high cholesterol increases the chances of developing heart disease. To lessen your risk of heart disease due to weight, it is important to know your BMI, or your body mass index. BMI is calculated using your height and weight.
Doctors often use it to determine if one is overweight or underweight. To figure BMI you must divide your weight in pounds by 2.2. You then must multiply your height in inches by .0254. When this is done, you divide your pounds by inches to get your BMI.
A BMI higher than 30 would be considered obese. Being obese puts you at risk for heart disease. Being overweight is classified as anything from 25 to 30. People who are overweight are also at an increased risk for heart disease. A normal BMI is from the 18.5 to 24.9 range.
Exercise and diet can help you lose weight; it can also help reduce your chance of developing heart disease due to obesity.