Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for your heart health because excessive body weight significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Excess fat, especially around your belly, is linked to elevated blood pressure, higher cholesterol levels, and insulin resistance, all of which contribute to heart disease. Over time, being overweight also causes the heart to work harder, which leads to increased strain on your heart and blood vessels and the risk of developing heart rhythm conditions such as atrial fibrillation.
Weight is also an important factor in the development and follow-up of heart failure, a heart disease affecting more than 64 million people worldwide. By tackling excessive weight, patients suffering from heart failure may improve their symptoms and increase their exercise capacity.