Pot Bellied? Heart Attack.

[MrAngryFace]

http://health.msn.com/dietfitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100167845&gt1=10309

"What we're seeing is a quite strong association between the pot-belly, apple shape among a relatively young group of people and the build-up of plaque in the arteries," said study co-author Dr. James A. de Lemos, an associate professor of medicine and director of the Coronary Care Unit at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

"Ten to 15 years down the road, this can lead to major cardiac problems, such as a heart attack," he said.

The findings are published in the Aug. 21 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), more than 870,000 Americans die from heart disease each year, making it the leading killer of both men and women.

Cardiovascular disease has long been associated with obesity, and approximately one-third of American adults are considered clinically obese, the researchers noted.

But are some forms of overweight worse than others? Lemos' team compared various ways of measuring obesity to detect signs of heart disease in the form of atherosclerosis ("hardening of the arteries").

They looked specifically at atherosclerosis, a systemic thickening and calcification of artery blood vessel walls due to a build-up of calcium and/or plaque composed of cholesterol and triglyceride fats.

The researchers focused on data collected between 2000 and 2002 on more than 2,700 men and women between the ages of 30 and 65, who were participating in the larger, multi-ethnic Dallas Heart Study.

Blood and urine samples were taken from all the participants following completion of a general health survey. A subsequent clinical exam calculated both weight and body mass index (BMI) -- a common obesity measurement based on weight-to-height ratios -- as well as waist and hip circumference.

All the men and women then underwent non-invasive imaging tests, including MRI to assess atherosclerosis and/or electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) that specifically looked at arterial calcium deposits in the heart.

Such calcium deposits, Lemos and his colleagues noted, collect years before the onset of chest pains or a heart attack.

Detectable coronary artery calcium was found in just over 20 percent (583) of the men and women tested. Almost 40 percent of those who underwent an MRI (976) were found to have detectable aortic plaque.

After factoring out differences in blood pressure, diabetes, age, smoking, or cholesterol status, body shape was a much better indicator of either calcium or plaque status than either simple weight or BMI numbers.

For both men and women, the bigger the belly in relation to the hips -- otherwise called the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) -- the greater the likelihood of arterial calcium in the heart.

After dividing the participants into five groups ranging from those with the smallest to the largest WHRs, the authors specifically observed that those with the largest were almost twice as likely to have coronary calcium as those with the smallest.

Even if your belt buckled somewhere between flat and fat, you weren't home-free, the researchers said. That's because even incremental increases in waist-to-hip-ratio translated into small but steady increases in calcium deposits.

Those with the largest waist-to-hip ratios were also three times as likely to have atherosclerotic plaque as those in the smallest waist-to-hip group, the researchers said.

Although higher BMI and waist circumference readings alone were also associated with signs of atherosclerosis, waist-to-hip ratios were found to be much more stronger indicators of either calcium or plaque build-up.

Lemos and his team noted that BMI, in particular, does not gauge body composition, because it fails to account for the fact that abdominal fat -- as opposed to fat around the hips -- may be much less healthy. Abdominal fat appears to trigger a chain of inflammatory activities that translates into harmful metabolic changes, plaque build-up and, ultimately, heart disease, the researchers said.

"The good news for patients is that it's not an 'all or nothing' situation," said Lemos. "Even little improvements in your body shape are going to prove beneficial, with the goal being the smallest waist relative to your hips that you can have -- without becoming anorexic, obviously."

[Phoenix Dark]

FUCK

[Smooth Groove]

FUCK

Why?  You've always said that you were skinny. 

[Phoenix Dark]

I am. But I do have a pot belly still, despite working out. It should be gone by November though, so I guess it's nothing to worry about. For a period of time I ate a lot of fast food. Often it would be because I wouldn't eat all day, and then at 1 in the morning I'd be hungry; so instead of cooking (too tired) I'd just head out to White Castle or something.

My pot is not big, nor is it visible when I have clothes on. But I definitely want to get rid of it. I just hope I haven't done too much permanent damage to myself lol

[MrAngryFace]

Long as you work at it there shouldnt be a problem. Its mainly about people who just dont bother fighting the endless war with food

[Smooth Groove]

Long as you work at it there shouldnt be a problem. Its mainly about people who just dont bother fighting the endless war with food

and age.  Many older guys have told me it's hard to not have a belly once you're past 30.  It's kinda scary to think that you metabolism will suddenly drop in half once you reach a ceratin age. 

[Stocky]

Fuck these medical terms. What does this all mean? Light Beer?

[MrAngryFace]

My metabolism dropped at 22. I eat less than 1200 calories some days, I have like nothing to eat in my house cept reduced fat cheezits right now lol. Its a constant struggle, but I dont have a pot belly yet and im not even exercising. I think with exercise id never have to worry but im lazy.

People make allowances when theyre old and I get that, cause as I get older its harder to stay up past 11 and wake up before 7am. I feel like crap most of the day cause of allergies and just bein fukin worn down.

In short, CHERISH YOUR YOUTH! I fondly look back to my teen years of hot pockets and soda

[Smooth Groove]

That's not age, MAF.  Your metabolism went down because of how drastically you've reduced your calories.  An average male should eat at least 2000 calories a day.  When you cut it down to about 1200 Cals/day, your metabolism will eventually drop to adjust.  Which is why dieting is not a good long term solution for losing weight.  A dieting person can increase weight rapidly just by going off the diet for a few days.  Exercising and eating more meals of smaller portions will be far better for someone like you than eating so little.  There's no reason why someone of your age should ever have to eat less than 1200 calories/day to keep the weight off. 

[Phoenix Dark]

Long as you work at it there shouldnt be a problem. Its mainly about people who just dont bother fighting the endless war with food

and age.  Many older guys have told me it's hard to not have a belly once you're past 30.  It's kinda scary to think that you metabolism will suddenly drop in half once you reach a ceratin age. 

Poor MAF. I wish I could take a time machine so we could eat hot pockets together. Then I'd come back to the present and continue eating them

My metabolism is very fast and even effects my response to temperature, and it's a struggle for me TO GAIN weight. I'm 20, so I have some time to get healthy yet I don't want to use that as an excuse. I want to be in better shape than I was during my AAU days. My legs are already in tune with my cardio regiment, now the rest of my body needs to catch up lolz.

November is my target date for significant improvement 

[BlackMage]

I've recently acquired a pot-belly because I'm trying to gain weight (I am currently munching around 3000 calories a day). OTOH, I do eat pretty healthy. Due to a sinus infection, I haven't been able to work out recently though.  :'(

[DJ_Tet]

and age.  Many older guys have told me it's hard to not have a belly once you're past 30.  It's kinda scary to think that you metabolism will suddenly drop in half once you reach a ceratin age. 

It's very true in my experience.  I've been working out hard core since March and I'm only really halfway to my goal (I'm 31 1/2 for reference).  When I was 19 and in college (hello bad for you cafeteria food) I lost more weight in a quicker timeframe with less effort.  I was down to 175 which on my frame made me look too damn skinny.  Fast forward a decade later and I'm still chilling at 215 after much work.  Keep in mind I was bigger when I started working out in college than I was when I started working out this time.

I'm with MAF, cherish your youth.  I was just talking to a coworker today as he was asking how I lost so much weight.  He was getting down on himself because he couldn't stay motivated, and I think the main point I was able to pass on to him was that he had so many advantages on me that he shouldn't get discouraged.  Being 22 he still has plenty of time to lose the weight, and not to lose focus.

Another disadvantage to waiting till you're older to lose weight is that after 30 or so your skin starts to lose elasticity.  I'm hoping my skin will go back to it's original tautness, but I don't really expect it to.  Better to just stay on top of your health at an early age rather than try and reverse the cycle later on.

The longer you wait, the harder it gets.

[bagofeyes]

lol 90% of america

[DJ_Tet]

lol 90% of america

That too, people are fucking HUGE here anymore.

I didn't feel all that big even though I knew I was, and that is a freaking problem.

Another problem is the 2000+ calories in the Sirloin Burger combo at Jack in the Box.  Sooo delicious, advertised at nearly every commercial break, and 1200+ calories and 60+ grams of fat in the burger alone.

But WEED is illegal.  Give me a break.  America has an epidemic on our hands and it's getting worse, not better.

[MrAngryFace]

smooth: you dont eat 2000 cals a day at a desk job, period

[Smooth Groove]

smooth: you dont eat 2000 cals a day at a desk job, period

Why not?  Does your company mind if you take a 10 min snack break? 

[MrAngryFace]

2000 too much for desk job

[Smooth Groove]

2000 too much for desk job

It's not though.  Really.  You've just been at 1200 too long.  I'm not a nutrionalist but maybe you should see one and maybe a fitness trainer to see how you can gradually increase calorie intake without getting fat.  You're still young by any standards.  Wouldn't it suck to be stuck with a daily limit of 1200 calories for the rest of your life?

[MrAngryFace]

thats BULLSHIT

[Smooth Groove]

It's not.  I'll look up the name and title of the book you should read.  It's from some famous doctor that's helped many famous athletes to get in better shape. 

[Flannel Boy]

thats BULLSHIT

Not really. A person's metabolic set point, though influenced by genetics, can be altered by diet. Thus, if you are on a low calorie diet for a long time your metabolic set point will be lowered to conserve energy.

[MrAngryFace]

YOU ARE ALL FULLABULLSHIT TRYING TO GET ME TO EAT MORE

[DJ_Tet]

thats BULLSHIT

Just to throw another voice on the fire, it's not bullshit.

The human body has an amazing ability to adapt and it most definitely can adapt it's metabolism down to 1200 calories.  That's really way too low man.  You should crank it up and mix in a little cardio if you're afraid of gaining a couple of pounds.

Otherwise you're really setting yourself up for failure.  God forbid you marry a girl who can cook, you'll eat 1200 calories for dinner alone.  And you'll be huge in no time.

[Smooth Groove]

thats BULLSHIT

Not really. A person's metabolic set point, though influenced by genetics, can be altered by diet. Thus, if you are on a low calorie diet for a long time your metabolic set point will be lowered to conserve energy.

yup.  homeostasis

[Flannel Boy]

To be fair, MAF said he eats 1200 calories. With booze, it's probably near Michael Moore levels. 

[MrAngryFace]

hah

[Smooth Groove]

To be fair, MAF said he eats 1200 calories. With booze, it's probably near Michael Moore levels. 

but he probably only has an appetite when he drinks.

[MrAngryFace]

BULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLSHIT

Literally nothing but reduced fat cheezits in my house. I dont eat while drunk fukers

[Smooth Groove]

You don't ever want a baconator or two while you're drunk?  Actually, I want to try one myself.  Too bad there aren't any Wendy's around. 

[MrAngryFace]

I dont drive while drunk

[bagofeyes]

everyone eats when they're drunk. everyone!

[Ichirou]

Potbellied Heart Attack would be a great name for a punk band.