A new study has found that fat around the waist, often called belly fat, may play a bigger role in heart health than overall body weight.
The research suggests that people with more fat stored around their waist may have a higher risk of heart failure, even if their weight appears normal.
The findings were presented at the American Heart Association’s EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026 in Boston. This is a major scientific meeting where researchers share new discoveries about heart health and disease prevention.
The results add to growing evidence that not all body fat is the same, and where fat is stored in the body can matter more than how much a person weighs.
Heart failure is a serious condition in which the heart cannot pump blood as well as it should. This can lead to symptoms such as tiredness, shortness of breath, and swelling in the legs. It is a common condition, especially in older adults, and it can greatly affect quality of life.
For many years, doctors have used body mass index, or BMI, to measure whether someone has a healthy weight. BMI is calculated using height and weight. However, BMI does not show where fat is stored in the body. This means that two people with the same BMI can have very different health risks.
In this study, researchers focused on central obesity, which refers to fat stored around the waist and internal organs. This type of fat is also known as visceral fat. Unlike fat under the skin, visceral fat surrounds important organs and is more active in the body. It can release substances that affect how the body works.
The study followed a group of adults for nearly seven years. During this time, 112 people developed heart failure. The researchers compared different measures of body fat, including BMI and waist size. They found that waist measurements were more closely linked to heart failure risk than BMI.
People with larger waistlines or higher waist-to-height ratios had a greater chance of developing heart failure. This was true even for people whose BMI was in the normal range. This finding is important because it shows that someone can appear to have a healthy weight but still have hidden risks due to fat stored around the waist.
The researchers also looked at inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a natural response of the immune system, but when it becomes long-term, it can damage tissues and organs. Previous research has shown that inflammation is linked to many diseases, including heart disease.
In this study, people with higher levels of inflammation were more likely to develop heart failure. The researchers found that inflammation explained about one-quarter to one-third of the link between belly fat and heart failure. This suggests that visceral fat may increase heart risk partly by causing ongoing inflammation in the body.
Szu-Han Chen, the lead author of the study, explained that this research helps answer an important question. Some people develop heart problems even though their body weight seems normal. This study suggests that fat distribution and inflammation may help explain why.
Experts say these findings could change how doctors assess risk. Instead of relying only on BMI, measuring waist size could provide a clearer picture of heart health. This simple measurement could help identify people at risk earlier and allow for earlier action.
The study also supports previous research from the American Heart Association, which has highlighted inflammation as a key factor in heart disease. Inflammation can damage blood vessels, affect the immune system, and lead to changes in the heart over time.
However, the researchers also noted some limitations. They did not have detailed information about different types of heart failure, so the findings apply to heart failure in general. More research is needed to understand how visceral fat affects specific types of the condition.
Future studies will also explore whether reducing inflammation or losing belly fat can lower the risk of heart failure. This could lead to new ways to prevent the disease.
Overall, this study shows that paying attention to waist size is important for heart health. It also highlights the role of inflammation as a hidden factor linking body fat to disease.
In conclusion, the research suggests that belly fat may be more harmful than overall body weight when it comes to heart failure risk. While BMI remains a useful tool, it may not tell the full story. By focusing on waist measurements and inflammation, doctors may be able to better identify people at risk and take steps to protect heart health earlier.
The findings are important and offer a new way of thinking about weight and health. However, they should be interpreted with care.
The study shows a strong link, but it does not prove that belly fat directly causes heart failure. Other lifestyle factors may also play a role. Even so, the evidence is strong enough to support simple changes in how risk is measured and managed.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and Vitamin K2 could help reduce heart disease risk.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about how to remove plaques that cause heart attacks, and results showing a new way to prevent heart attacks, strokes.
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