Heart Disease
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5 min. read
Understanding the relationship between obesity and the heart
Obesity and the cardiovascular system: understanding how weight loss can help lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.
The good news is that you don’t have to do it alone. Your doctor can help you to better address your personal risk of heart-related complications, which you can calculate for yourself using our Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) calculator. Because WHtR measures body distribution, it is generally considered to be a more accurate indicator of heart health than BMI. Based on your WHtR results, your doctor can also help you to develop a weight management plan that is tailored to your individual needs and health goals.
When it comes to your consultation, it’s not always easy to know the right questions to ask. That’s exactly why we’ve created a guide to support meaningful discussions with your doctor about heart health.
Here are some questions you could ask
- How can we check the health of my heart?
- Alongside reducing my weight, what else can I do to lower my risk factors associated with heart disease?
- How do we work together to develop a weight management plan based on my individual needs?
- What obesity care options could be suitable for me?
Take this guide with you to your next consultation to help you feel more prepared to discuss obesity and your heart health.
References:
- Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Lifestyle risk factors. 2024. Available at: https://www.heartandstroke.ca/heart-disease/risk-and-prevention/lifestyle-risk-factors. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- British Heart Foundation. Obesity. 2024. Available at: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/obesity. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- NICE. Overweight and obesity management. 2025. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng246. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
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