24 January 2025

The Impact of Fat Distribution on Heart Disease Risk

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for one in five fatalities. While several conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, overweight, and obesity, are known to elevate the risk of heart disease, recent research suggests that fat distribution within the body also plays a critical role, even for individuals with a healthy weight.

A study published in the European Heart Journal by researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School revealed that intramuscular fat, or fat stored within muscle tissue, significantly increases the likelihood of serious heart disease, regardless of other traditional risk factors or body mass index (BMI).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasize that heart disease is the leading cause of death across most ethnic groups in the U.S. Globally, it accounts for one-third of all deaths, affecting low- and middle-income countries as well as affluent ones.

Several factors contribute to the risk of developing heart disease. These include high blood pressure, elevated levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, tobacco use, physical inactivity, high alcohol consumption, obesity, and diabetes. To mitigate these risks, the CDC recommends maintaining a healthy weight, eating a diet rich in fiber and low in saturated and trans fats, engaging in regular physical activity, and avoiding smoking.

This emerging research highlights the importance of not only focusing on overall body fat but also understanding its distribution, as intramuscular fat could independently heighten heart disease risk.