Fewer irregular heartbeat episodes
- Published in
- JAMA 2013
- People studied
- 150
In a trial of 150 people with atrial fibrillation and overweight or obesity, those in a weight-management programme lost about 14 kg, against about 4 kg, and had fewer symptoms and episodes.
- Checked against
- PubMed 24240932
- Published in
- JAMA 2013
- Last checked
- 30 October 2026
Key takeaway
In this Australian trial, 150 adults with overweight or obesity and atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat, were randomised to a weight-management programme or general lifestyle advice for a median of 15 months. The programme group lost about 14.3 kg against 3.6 kg, and had larger falls in symptom scores and in the number and total length of episodes. The heart wall and the upper left heart chamber also got smaller in both groups, more so with the programme.
At a glance
- Type of study
- randomised trial
- People studied
- 150
- How long
- about 15 months (median)
- Compared with
- general lifestyle advice
- Main result
- About 14 kg lost went with fewer and shorter episodes of irregular heartbeat.
- Strength of evidence
- Randomised trials
What this study does not show
A small trial at one centre. Both groups also had intensive care of other heart risk factors, so the result is not from weight loss alone.
Results from studies in groups of people, mostly in diet and movement programmes. They cannot be promised to any one person. This information is educational and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.
More on heart
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- Lower risk of high blood pressureRandomised trials · Stevens et al., Ann Intern Med 2001
- Lower risk of serious heart eventsLong-term or observational studies · Gregg et al., Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2016
- Fewer irregular heartbeat episodesRandomised trials · Abed et al., JAMA 2013
- Better heart risk markers from age 55Randomised trials · Salas-Salvadó et al., Diabetes Care 2019
- No fewer heart attacks or strokes in one large trialRandomised trials · Look AHEAD Research Group, N Engl J Med 2013
- Lasting heart risk gains, even with regainRandomised trials · Hartmann-Boyce et al., Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2023
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