Scientific literature worldwide shows that excess body weight is
clearly linked to cardiovascular disease according to a report
jointly released today by the National Heart Foundation of
Australia and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
(AIHW).
In particular, the literature reviewed shows evidence of an
association between overweight and obesity and coronary heart
disease (heart attack and angina) in adults. It also shows an
association between overweight and obesity and cardiovascular
disease in young to middle aged adults, although not necessarily in
older people.
Dr Lyn Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of the National Heart
Foundation of Australia said, 'This report is saying that the
evidence linking excess weight and heart disease is consistent and
statistically significant across a wide range of the
highest-quality studies which have made every effort possible to
minimise measurement bias and a whole range of other confounding
variables.
'In fact the AIHW authors looked at over 270 sources of clinical
and statistical work worldwide, and what they have come up with is
strong and should contribute to current debates on obesity and
health,' Dr Roberts said.
The report, The Relationship Between Overweight, Obesity and
Cardiovascular Disease, also shows evidence of an association
between excess body weight and risk factors for heart disease such
as atherosclerosis (fatty and fibrous deposits in arteries), high
blood pressure, high total blood cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes,
particularly with central adiposity (fat around the middle).
Dr Roberts said that the findings were important because of
growing awareness of the obesity epidemic in Australia, and because
cardiovascular disease remained Australia's biggest killer and
largest health problem. Currently around 2.6 million Australians
aged 25 and over are obese and cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects
an estimated 3.7 million Australians, or around 1 in 5 people.
This report is part of a body of work undertaken by the National
Heart Foundation of Australia to address overweight, obesity and
CVD in Australia and demonstrates the importance of achieving a
healthy body weight to reduce CVD risk.
Other findings in the literature reviewed included:
- there was moderate evidence linking overweight and obesity and
ischaemic stroke;
- there is a lack of information on excess weight and CVD for 'at
risk' populations such as Indigenous Australians and people from
low socioeconomic backgrounds.
2 December 2004
Further information: Dr Lyn Roberts, NHFA
(contact Donna Le Page, tel. 0412 797 937)
For media copies of the report: Publications Officer,
AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1032
Availability: Check the AIHW
Publications Catalogue for availability of The Relationship
Between Overweight, Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease,
December 2004.