Preventing obesity is critical to reducing risk of heart disease, diabetes

Healthy weight loss is a necessity in terms of preventing obesity. Adopting positive lifestyle behaviors – such as eating nutrient-rich food and exercising on a regular basis – can help keep the pounds off, since a recent paper published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology: Journal of the American Heart Association reported that carrying excessive weight can increase an individual’s likelihood of having heart disease.

Obesity is also a common risk factor for serious illnesses such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension and gout, according to scientists from Sweden and Finland. Individuals who fall into this weight category are most likely to have abdominal fat, increased secretion of liver lipids and impaired trigycleride removal.

“It is important to recognize that measuring abdominal fat and liver fat can identify the patients at high risk for metabolic abnormalities and heart disease,” said senior author Jan Boren. “Such exams are important because up to 20 percent of the obese appear to be ‘metabolically normal.’”

Individuals who are at risk for obesity may wish to seek the help of medical weight loss programs, which can help them get fit through holistic techniques that encompass a variety of factors leading to better health.