None of the participants had heart disease, cancer, or diabetes. Participants in the study were asked to fill out a questionnaire concerning the types of food they consumed, smoking habits, exercise habits, and consumption of alcohol. Participants whose bodies produced more insulin tended to have higher leptin hormone levels, indicating a possible connection between leptin hormone levels and the development of diabetes. Although the researchers were unable to determine if leptin is an independent risk factor for heart disease, obesity itself does increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. The researchers suggest that exercise, which reduces levels of leptin hormone, may reduce the risk of heart disease.
Exercise also is an effective means of losing weight.
Obesity is one of the major risk factors for coronary heart disease, according to the American Heart Association . According to a 1998 American Heart Association conference concerning obesity and cardiovascular disease, obesity itself has many causes, including genetic heredity and environmental factors. Blood pressure tends to increase with weight gain. In addition, obesity has also been linked to a metabolic disorder, resulting in insulin resistance. Contact Information Copyright 2001 Methodist Health Care System, Houston, Tx.