Obesity can significantly increase the risk of heart disease by raising blood pressure, disrupting metabolism, and straining the cardiovascular system. Even small changes in weight and lifestyle can lead to measurable improvements in heart health.
Obesity is often treated like a numbers game — BMI, calories, pounds. It can seem like it all comes down to what's on the scale. But weight is only part of the story. What really matters is how that extra weight affects the body, especially the heart. Extra pounds can put more pressure on your cardiovascular system than most people realize, influencing everything from blood pressure to the rhythm of your heartbeat.
Obesity has been a public health concern for decades, but especially among Oklahomans. As of 2024, 38% of Oklahomans were considered obese, placing the state as the third worst in obesity prevalence, and while weight itself is one concern, the bigger issue is how it affects long-term health and well-being. In Oklahoma, this high prevalence of obesity directly contributes to heart and cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of death in the state, also at a significantly higher rate than the rest of the country.
At CardioVascular Health Clinic, patients with obesity and obesity-related cardiovascular concerns receive the specialized, wrap-around care they need to take control of their health and protect their heart. Our multidisciplinary team includes national-caliber physicians, cardiologists, vascular specialists, and interventional experts who are experienced in managing the complex heart and vascular issues often linked to obesity, such as hypertension, sleep apnea, and metabolic syndrome. Using state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, leading-edge procedures, and personalized treatment plans, the physicians at CardioVascular Health Clinic provide comprehensive care that goes beyond medication, incorporating lifestyle guidance, risk reduction strategies, and long-term support to improve outcomes and enhance your quality of life.
Obesity is usually defined by a BMI of 30 or higher, but BMI isn’t perfect; it doesn’t tell the full story of your health, and it doesn’t know the difference between muscle and fat. Waist size, body composition, and where you carry weight all matter, too.
Moreover, obesity isn’t always about a failure to diet and exercise. Hormones, sleep, stress, medications, and genetics all play a role, which is why weight management isn’t just about willpower. For many people, obesity and weight management are much more complicated.
The heart’s job is to pump blood throughout your body. The more weight it has to support, the harder that job becomes. Over time, that extra workload can wear the heart down, leading to complications like higher blood pressure, higher cholesterol, and a greater risk of things like heart attacks and stroke.
This combination of mechanical overload, metabolic strain, vascular damage, and secondary comorbidities means obesity isn’t just a weight issue; it creates a chain reaction in the body that makes heart problems much more likely.
Visceral fat is a type of fat that collects deep in the abdomen, surrounding the internal organs. Unlike subcutaneous fat (the kind you can pinch under the skin) visceral fat isn’t as obvious, but it poses a greater risk to heart health.
Visceral fat actively influences how your body functions on the inside. It releases hormones and inflammatory chemicals that can interfere with how your body manages blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure. Over time, these disruptions increase your risk of heart disease.
You don’t have to be significantly overweight to have visceral fat. Even people with a normal weight and BMI can have high levels of visceral fat, especially if they tend to store fat around the belly. It’s not always something you can see, but it can still raise your risk for serious heart issues.
Obesity and heart health are closely linked, with research showing that excess weight can raise the risk for a wide range of cardiovascular problems. According to the American Heart Association, people with obesity are up to 85% more likely to develop heart disease compared to those at a healthy weight. That’s because obesity doesn’t just affect one part of the body—it creates a ripple effect that disrupts blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and more, setting the stage for serious heart and vascular conditions.
When there's more body to supply with blood, your heart has to pump harder to keep up. That means higher pressure inside your arteries and over time, that constant strain can take a serious toll, wearing down the blood vessels and forcing your heart to work overtime all the time.
Obesity raises the risk of plaque buildup in your arteries, the vessels that carry blood to your heart. As those passageways get narrower, blood flow slows down, leading to tightness in your chest, shortness of breath, or even a heart attack.
Heart failure doesn't mean the heart stops working completely; it means it can't keep up with what your body needs. When the heart struggles to pump blood efficiently, you might notice swelling in your legs, feeling wiped out all the time, or getting winded with everyday activities.
Extra fat around the heart can change its structure. That makes it more prone to electrical hiccups, like atrial fibrillation, which can cause palpitations and boost the risk of stroke.
The more weight pressing on your lower body, the harder it is for your veins to move blood back to the heart. That can lead to swelling, bulging varicose veins, and in some cases, dangerous blood clots.
Obesity doesn’t just affect weight—it impacts nearly every system in the body. By disrupting how the body regulates hormones, inflammation, and metabolism, it can lead to widespread health issues including:
While there is no fast fix for obesity, even small steps can lead to big improvements. Losing just 5 to 10 percent of your weight can take a load off your heart, drop your blood pressure, and help your cholesterol move in the right direction.
Other things you can do to start feeling better and improve your heart health include:
You don’t need a complete life overhaul. Just start with one small change and build from there. You’ll be surprised how far it can take you.
At CardioVascular Health Clinic, we understand that obesity affects more than just weight—it can put serious stress on your heart and increase your risk for conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. That’s why we take a personalized, whole-person approach to care, combining advanced diagnostics with expert guidance to detect early warning signs, manage related conditions, and support long-term heart health. Whether you're in the early stages of concern or already have a diagnosis, our team is here to help you take control and move forward with confidence. With multiple locations across the state, CardioVascular Health Clinic makes it easier for more Oklahomans to access high-quality, specialized cardiovascular care close to home. Our experienced providers offer leading-edge treatments, lifestyle support, and ongoing monitoring to help you strengthen your heart, improve your health, and reduce your risk of serious complications. If you’re living with obesity and feeling stuck—or just want to be proactive—it’s never too early to have that conversation. Contact us today and get started on your journey to better health.
