Heart failure risk
- Published in
- NEJM 2002
- People studied
- 5,881
In a study of 5,881 people, those with obesity had about twice the risk of heart failure of people with a normal BMI.
- Checked against
- PubMed 12151467
- Published in
- NEJM 2002
- Last checked
- 30 October 2026
Key takeaway
The Framingham Heart Study followed 5,881 adults, average age 55, for 14 years on average. After accounting for other risk factors, each extra BMI point went with a 5% higher risk of heart failure in men and 7% in women. People with obesity had about twice the risk of people with a normal BMI.
At a glance
- Type of study
- long-term community study (Framingham Heart Study)
- People studied
- 5,881
- How long
- mean 14 years
- Compared with
- people with a normal BMI
- Main result
- Obesity went with about twice the risk of heart failure.
- Strength of evidence
- Long-term or observational studies
What this study does not show
An association, not proof of cause, from one community in the United States. BMI was measured at the start.
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 why
- Genes explain much of the difference in BMILong-term or observational studies · Stunkard et al., NEJM 1990
- Years of lifeLong-term or observational studies · Prospective Studies Collaboration, Lancet 2009
- Heart failure riskLong-term or observational studies · Kenchaiah et al., NEJM 2002
- Fatty liverLong-term or observational studies · Quek et al., Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023
- The body burns less after weight lossSmall or uncontrolled studies · Leibel et al., NEJM 1995
- Four or more illnesses at onceLong-term or observational studies · Kivimäki et al., Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2022
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