Obesity increases blood pressure and cholesterol and can lead to diabetes. People who are approximately 30 percent over their ideal body weight are more prone to develop heart disease. Also, according to the AHA, the distribution of fat on the body may influence the risk of heart disease. The ratio of waist measurement to hip measurement calculation is a good indicator of body fat distribution. Ideally, the ratio should be no greater than 1.0 for men and 0.8 for women.
Dietary cholesterol is another issue.
Your liver produces all the cholesterol you need, so extra cholesterol in the diet is a big culprit in the development of coronary disease. Therefore, you should limit the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol that you eat. An active lifestyle also goes a long way toward preventing heart disease. Apart from good eating habits, sedentary living can led to excess body weight and can cause changes in blood cholesterol levels. Aerobic exercise on a regular basis for an ample time is highly beneficial, whether it's mild, moderate, or rigorous training.