01 | 27 | 2008 Posted By Regan Zambri & Long
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Weight Loss is Associated with Heart Health, Whether You Eat Less or Exercise More: New Study

People who are overweight and who lower their weight substantially experience increased cardiovascular health as a result, regardless of whether they lose weight by eating less or exercising more.  The finding is the result of recent research conducted by scientists at Washington University School of Medicine, and published in the American Journal of Physiology.

Researchers studied two groups of overweight patients -- one comprised of patients who lost a moderate amount of weight through exercise, and another comprised of those who lost similar amounts through calorie restriction.  Using ultrasound imaging, scientists were able to measure the diastolic (or filling) phase of the heart -- a crucial indicator of the health of a heart.  Analysis of the results over time revealed that as weight was lost, most patients' hearts required less time to relax and fill with blood between heartbeats, having essentially been restored to a more youthful state. 

Although the patients in the calorie-restricted group achieved greater reduction of the overall stiffness of their hearts, the two groups each achieved an immediate heart health benefit from reducing their weight levels.  Authors of the study suggest that people who are overweight and wish to improve their heart health immediately should adopt whichever weight loss strategy is most tolerable to them, and adhere to that strategy.

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