CVD Risk High while “Fat but Fit”

A Spanish observational study suggests that, although physical activity (PA) mitigates partly the detrimental effects of overweight/obesity on the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), excess body weight per se is associated with a remarkable increase in the prevalence of major risk factors. The data from 527 662 participants [32% female; mean age 42.3 years; body mass index (BMI): 26.2 ± 4.3 kg/m²] were obtained by the physician-directed examinations from 2012 to 2016. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between each BMI/PA group and the prevalence of CVD risk factors, adjusted by date of the medical examination, home address, age, sex, and smoking status. Being either regularly or insufficiently active conferred protection compared to inactivity against all the studied risk factors within each BMI category, which was evident in a PA dose-response manner for diabetes and hypertension. However, regular/insufficient PA did not compensate for the negative effects of overweight/obesity, as individuals with overweight/obesity were at greater CVD risk than their peers with normal weight, irrespective of PA levels. Similar results were found when analyzing men and women separately. The findings are in line with recent studies and suggest that both PA and weight control should be aimed at reducing CVD risk. Source: https://academic.oup.com/eurjpc/