The Link Between Body Fat and Stroke

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Tanne D, Medalie JH, Goldbourt U: Body fat distribution and long-term risk of stroke mortality. Stroke 36:1021-1025, 2005.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Being overweight increases one's chances of getting diabetes, cardiovascular disease (disease of the heart and blood vessels), heart attack, and stroke. In general, the higher a person's body mass index (BMI, a measure of weight in relation to height), the greater their chance of getting heart and blood vessel disease.

Research shows that how fat is distributed on a person's body may influence one's overall health. Some people carry most of their weight in the waist, while other people's extra fat is more evenly distributed on their bodies, hips, arms, and legs.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

The goal of the study was to look at links between weight, its distribution in the body, and one's risk of dying of stroke, a serious condition that disrupts blood flow to the brain.

Who was studied?

The study included 9,151 male civil servants and municipal employees in the Israeli Ischemic Heart Disease (IIHD) project, a long-term study of heart and blood vessel disease in men.

How was the study done?

Each participant had a physical exam and blood drawn for laboratory tests. Their height and weight was measured to calculate body mass index.

Researchers measured the thickness of the participants' skin beneath their shoulder blades, and on the back of their upper arms. These measurements helped the researchers estimate the distribution of fat in the body.

Cases of stroke-related deaths were documented from death certificates and medical records.

What did the researchers find?

The more weight people carry in their stomach, the greater their risk of dying from a stroke.

What were the limitations of the study?

Only men were studied, so the findings may not apply to women.

Information on the cause of deaths may not be accurate or complete.

Researchers didn't collect information about other kinds of stroke.

Measurements were taken at the beginning of the study, so researchers couldn't determine what affect weight changes or BMIs may have had on whether they had a stroke.

What are the implications of the study?

Measuring skin fold thickness, and taking body fat distribution measurements, may be useful in identifying men who are more likely to die from a stroke. More studies need to be done to better understand the relationship between body fat and resulting health problems like diabetes, heart and blood vessel disease, and stroke.