Just a few extra pounds increases heart failure risk

Conclusion This large study uses an interesting genetic approach (Mendelian randomisation) to suggest obesity increases the risk of heart failure and adverse changes in liver enzymes. The combination of a very large sample, prospectively collected information, and a wide range of cardiometabolic measures lend credibility to the findings. The method the researchers used is also thought to reduce the chances of factors other than BMI influencing results, and the chance that the ‘outcome’ could be causing the ‘exposure’ (reverse causality). The main limitation of this kind of research is that assumptions need to be made. The potentially weakest assumption is the reliability of the association between the FTO genetic variant and BMI. Although the researchers report that this link has been widely found in many other studies, they also note that the strength of the link is relatively weak – the variant is only thought to explain about 0.3% of the variation of BMI in the population. Estimates of the effect of BMI would be more accurate if this link was stronger. The researchers suggest that studies in the future might use more than one genetic variation to increase the strength of the link, leading to more precise estimates.  They also note that an effect of the variant on characteristics other than BMI cannot be ruled out. Body mass index also has its limitations as a measure of fatness – you can be very muscular and have a high BMI. However, it is a widely used me...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Obesity Lifestyle/exercise Source Type: news