How Being Underweight or Overweight Can Endanger Your Heart

It’s never too early — or too late — to take steps to protect your heart. Research shows heart disease remains the top cause of death in older adults, yet deaths due to heart failure have surged in people younger than 45.   

At Hibari Family Medical, we’re experts in women’s and men’s health and specialize in geriatric care. Regardless of age, we can assess your risk and recommend lifestyle changes to protect your heart.

In honor of American Heart Month, we’re exploring how being overweight — and perhaps more surprisingly, underweight — can harm your heart.

How being overweight affects your heart

Being overweight increases your risk for coronary artery disease (clogged arteries), atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), and heart failure (inadequate blood circulation). Your chances of sudden cardiac death also increase.

It specifically sets the stage for these conditions that compromise heart health:

High blood pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) often begins due to the stress of carrying extra weight. 

Hypertension damages the heart arteries, making it easy for cholesterol to build up. This condition, atherosclerosis, is the leading cause of heart attacks. Even with mildly elevated blood pressure, your risk significantly rises.

Type 2 diabetes

Excessive weight gain raises your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. High blood sugar (a characteristic of type 2 diabetes) contributes to heart disease because it damages the blood vessels and nerves.

People with diabetes are more likely to have heart problems at a younger age. They also have twice the risk of heart disease compared to adults who don’t have high blood sugar.

High cholesterol

Overweight and obesity increase the risk of high cholesterol. Excess cholesterol circulating in your bloodstream accelerates atherosclerosis.

Inflammation

Stored fat actively produces hormones and other substances that cause inflammation. This type of systemic inflammation plays a significant role in many chronic health conditions, including heart disease.

Excessive strain on the heart

Being overweight forces your heart to work harder to pump enough blood through your body. The extra strain results in damaged heart cells, thickened heart muscles, and impaired function. In some cases, it can disrupt the heart’s rhythm, leading to atrial fibrillation.

How being underweight affects your heart

While researchers continue studying the link between low body weight and heart health, studies highlight the dangers. One study confirmed that being underweight directly increases heart disease risk. Similarly, another study found that underweight individuals face a 20% higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those with a healthy weight.

Being underweight can threaten your heart health in the following ways:

Nutritional deficiencies and muscle atrophy

If you’re underweight, you may have nutritional deficiencies and muscle atrophy (the loss of muscle mass and strength). These changes can weaken your heart and cause heart arrhythmias.

Electrolyte imbalances

Electrolytes like potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium regulate the electrical signals that make your heart muscles pump blood. In severe cases, an electrolyte imbalance may cause your heart to stop (cardiac arrest).

Who is overweight vs. underweight?

The body mass index (BMI) isn't precise, but it's a good screening tool that estimates body fat by comparing height and weight.

A BMI of 18.5 or lower is considered underweight. For comparison, overweight is 25 to 29.9, and obesity is 30 and over.

Take action to protect your heart

Protecting your heart health starts with understanding your risk. At Hibari Family Medical, we assess heart health at any age and create personalized lifestyle plans to promote overall well-being.

You can also depend on us for compassionate chronic disease management if you already have heart disease. Contact Hibari Family Medical today by phone or use our online booking to request an appointment.