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Fat & Fit" Women Have Lower Risk for CAD Than Thin, Unfit Women

A number of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women have been established, including obesity and physical fitness. What has not been clearly established is the relative importance of each of these risk factors. The purpose of this study was to determine if obesity or physical activity had a stronger influence on coronary events and outcomes in women.

The data for this analysis came from The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute which sponsored the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) study. A total of 936 women who were being treated for suspected ischemia were included in the study, and followed for an average of 4 years for adverse outcomes.

Surprisingly, lower body weight was not associated with a reduced risk for heart disease., but the women who reported higher levels of physical activity had fewer coronary risk factors, less coronary disease and a lower risk for adverse outcomes with coronary events. This study documents the relationship between physical fitness and a reduced risk of heart disease. Fitness Professionals should emphasize to their overweight client that in terms of favorable reductions and outcomes in the incidence of heart disease, it is better to be "fit and fat" than thin and unfit.

Wessel, Timothy, R. et al. Relationship of Physical Fitness vs. Body Mass Index with Coronary Artery Disease and Cardiovascular Events in Women. JAMA. 2004;292:1179-1187.