Weight loss ‘decreases heart disease risk of morbidly obese’

Morbidly obese women who lose a significant amount of weight reduce their risk of developing heart disease, a study has shown.

Scientists from Tufts University, the University of California-Davis and Oregon Health and Sciences Center, conducted the research, which appears in the Journal of Lipid Research.

They recognised that many people find it difficult to lose weight or to maintain weight loss without help and noted the increase in popularity of bariatric (gastric band) surgery.

The researchers found that significant weight loss after bariatric surgery can improve the lipoprotein profiles of women within a year of the procedure.

High lipoprotein levels indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

According to the British Heart Foundation, cardiovascular disease can be prevented by stopping smoking, reducing cholesterol and achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.

Those who eat a healthy, balanced diet and drink a moderate amount of alcohol are also less likely to develop the disease.

Does your weight make you worry about heart disease?