Belly Fat Can Cause Heart Diseases, Say Researchers

by Danny Garcia, topnews
A recent research has found that losing belly fat can help in reducing the chances of a person succumbing to heart attack. The research was conducted by the researchers of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

During the study, the researchers recruited 60 people weighing 215 pounds. It is a long held belief that obesity leads to hire risk of heart diseases. The researchers have informed that fat of the belly could have serious consequences over the health of a person.

The participants of the study were divided in two groups. The half of the total participants was asked to follow low-carb diet and the other half were asked to have low-fat diet, for a period of six months.

Before initiating the study, the researchers conducted a blood flow test over the participants. The tests were conducted at the beginning of the study and at the end of the study. The improved blood flow showed improved health of heart arteries.

The participants of the study were able to shed a significant amount of fat. Participants on the low-carb diet lost weight by 28.9 pounds. Similarly, patients in the low-fat diet program lost 18.7 pounds. The lead researcher of the study, Kerry J. Stewart said, "This is important since there have been concerns that a low-carb diet, which means eating more fat, may have a harmful effect on cardiovascular health. These results showed no harmful effects from the low-carb diet".

It is hoped that the findings of the study would help people in reducing weight and would also help them in preventing heart diseases. The findings of the study have been presented at an American Heart Association scientific meeting held in San Diego on the 13th of March, 2011. The meeting was aimed at ways of preventing cardiovascular disease.