Friday 1st June 2007
A study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago suggests that middle-aged women who remain physically active in their daily life face lower risk of heart disease. The reduced risk is on account of lower levels of intra-abdominal fat.
Intra-abdominal fat is the fat that gathers around the organs in the abdomen and chest. It generally accumulates around midlife and can prove to be a risk factor for the development of diabetes, hypertension as well as heart disease.
While a woman might not appear outwardly heavy, she might still be carrying that potentially troublesome extra ??tire? around her organs. Earlier studies have shown that it is possible for a woman to reduce the amount of intra-abdominal fat she carries through exercise.
The new study was conducted by Dr. Sheila Dugan and her colleagues who examined 338 Chicago women for physical activity and intra-abdominal fat levels. Intra-abdominal fat measurements were done for all women.
The participants were also asked to fill out surveys detailing their physical activity levels, including housework on a weekly and monthly basis. Each study participant was assigned a score on the basis of her activity level.
The researchers then correlated this score with their levels of intra-abdominal fat. CT scan ?? considered the ??gold standard measurement?, was used for measuring intra-abdominal fat in the study participants. The researchers found that women who were physically most active had lower intra-abdominal fat levels as compared to those who were not so active.
??Those with a higher physical activity score had lower intra-abdominal fat,? Dr. Dugan said. ??Just being more physically active in your life will have a positive impact on your body, which will have a positive impact on your health.?
??A minor modification to your weekly activity, such as reducing the time you watch TV or increasing the time you walk to work or school, can make a difference in your long-term health,? said Dr. Dugan, a physiatrist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. The researchers found no difference in the results for white and black women.
??Focusing on visceral fat has become a real hot topic because of metabolic syndrome [which predisposes people to disease], and part of what leads us to diagnose metabolic syndrome is visceral fat content,? said Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, Director of Women and Heart Disease at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
??Here, they??re targeting one of the highest risk factors which causes metabolic syndrome, which is one of greatest reasons to develop coronary artery disease. Not only does exercise help condition your heart, but it helps to decrease this risk of visceral fat, which is huge,? she added.
??Separately, the fat around the organs is known to be more related to heart disease and diabetes and other things that can cause long-term chronic problems,? Dr. Dugan confirmed. She is expected to present her findings at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting to be held in New Orleans on Friday.
