Feinberg
Northwestern Medicine | Northwestern University | Faculty Profiles

News Center

  • Categories
    • Campus News
    • Disease Discoveries
    • Clinical Breakthroughs
    • Education News
    • Scientific Advances
    • Podcast
  • Press Release
  • Media Coverage
  • Editor’s Picks
    • COVID-19
    • Cardiology
    • Cancer
    • Neurology and Neuroscience
    • Aging and Longevity
    • Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
  • News Archives
  • About Us
    • Media Contact
    • Share Your News
    • News Feeds
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
Menu
  • Categories
    • Campus News
    • Disease Discoveries
    • Clinical Breakthroughs
    • Education News
    • Scientific Advances
    • Podcast
  • Press Release
  • Media Coverage
  • Editor’s Picks
    • COVID-19
    • Cardiology
    • Cancer
    • Neurology and Neuroscience
    • Aging and Longevity
    • Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
  • News Archives
  • About Us
    • Media Contact
    • Share Your News
    • News Feeds
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
Home » Stable Weight Reduces Heart Risk
Uncategorized

Stable Weight Reduces Heart Risk

By medwebNov 1, 2004
Share
Facebook Twitter Email

November 16, 2004

Stable Weight Reduces Heart Risk

CHICAGO—Gaining 15 pounds or more over several years is the major contributor to progression of risk factors for heart disease and development of metabolic syndrome, while maintaining a stable weight—even in individuals considered obese—significantly reduces those risks, according to a study led by a Northwestern University researcher.

Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, MD, ScD, assistant professor of preventive medicine and medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, presented findings of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions on November 7.

The CARDIA study, which is funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), followed over a 15-year period almost 2,500 men and women who were aged 18 to 30 at the beginning of the study.

More than 80 percent of the participants gained at least 15 pounds over the study period. Nearly one in five in the “gain” group developed metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors that indicate increased risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Less than 4 percent in the stable weight group had metabolic syndrome after 15 years.

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by unhealthy traits such as excessive belly fat, high cholesterol and other blood-fat disorders, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance or diabetes, and either a high normal blood pressure or hypertension.

The syndrome has been linked to obesity, physical inactivity, and genetic factors—and now weight gain. A recent study found that people with at least three factors for metabolic syndrome had a 65 percent greater risk of coronary heart disease death compared with people who did not have metabolic syndrome, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease.

“Weight gain is a nearly universal phenomenon in our society today. Greater public health efforts should be aimed at weight stabilization over the long term,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones said.

“The best defense is decreasing the amount they eat and increasing their physical activity,” he added.

Dr. Lloyd-Jones’s co-researchers on this study were: Kiang J. Liu, PhD, professor of preventive medicine; Laura A. Colangelo, a Feinberg School staff member; Lijing L. Yan, PhD, MPH, research assistant professor of preventive medicine; postdoctoral fellow Liviu Klein, PhD; Cora E. Lewis, MD, and Catherine M. Loria, PhD, of University of Alabama at Birmingham; and Peter Savage, MD, NHLBI, Bethesda, Md.

Share. Facebook Twitter Email

Related Posts

Lurie Cancer Center Receives Merit Extension from NCI

Oct 20, 2021

Drug Combination May Reduce Risk of Leukemia Relapse

Mar 26, 2020

Rewriting the Role of a Transcription Factor

Mar 19, 2020

Comments are closed.

Latest News

Hospitals Bound to Patient Safety Rules that Aren’t all Backed by Evidence

Jun 24, 2022

Identifying Protein Interactions that Promote Cancer Growth

Jun 24, 2022

Combination Treatment May Improve Quality of Life in Kidney Cancer

Jun 23, 2022

Calcium Channel Blockers May Improve Chemotherapy Response

Jun 21, 2022

Expanded Role for Calcium Channels in T-Cells

Jun 17, 2022
  • News Center Home
  • Categories
  • Press Release
  • Media Coverage
  • Editor’s Picks
  • News Archives
  • About Us
Flickr Photos
20220607_Feinberg Campus_0070
20220607_Feinberg Campus_0066
20220607_Feinberg Campus_0054
Northwestern University 2022. Photo by Jim Prisching
20220607_Feinberg Campus_0077
20220607_Feinberg Campus_0063
20220607_Feinberg Campus_0111
20220607_Feinberg Campus_0083
20220607_Feinberg Campus_0018
20220607_Feinberg Campus_0023
20220607_Feinberg Campus_0072 (2)
20220607_Feinberg Campus_0120

Northwestern University logo

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

RSS Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Flickr YouTube Instagram
Copyright © 2022 Northwestern University
  • Contact Northwestern University
  • Disclaimer
  • Campus Emergency Information
  • Policy Statements

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.