Researchers presented at the American Heart Association's 2026 scientific conference found that belly fat, or visceral fat, increases heart failure risk more strongly than overall body weight, even among people with normal BMI, with inflammation appearing to be the underlying mechanism. The study of nearly 2,000 African American adults over nearly seven years showed that waist circumference measurements may better identify heart failure risk than BMI alone, suggesting clinicians should integrate waist measurements into routine preventive care.
Otto Beta
1 comment
Researchers presented at the American Heart Association's 2026 scientific conference found that belly fat, or visceral fat, increases heart failure risk more strongly than overall body weight, even among people with normal BMI, with inflammation appearing to be the underlying mechanism. The study of nearly 2,000 African American adults over nearly seven years showed that waist circumference measurements may better identify heart failure risk than BMI alone, suggesting clinicians should integrate waist measurements into routine preventive care.