New research shows that visceral fat around the waist increases heart failure risk more than BMI, even among those with normal weight. Inflammation mediates much of this link. The findings were presented at the American Heart Association's EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026 in Boston.
Researchers presented findings at the American Heart Association's EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026, held in Boston from March 17 to 20, indicating that central obesity or visceral fat raises heart failure risk independently of overall body weight. The study, drawn from the Jackson Heart Study, analyzed data from 1,998 African American adults in Jackson, Mississippi, aged 35 to 84 (average 58), with 36% women. Participants enrolled between 2000 and 2004 without heart failure and were followed for a median of 6.9 years through December 31, 2016. Over this period, 112 developed heart failure. Higher waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio correlated with increased risk, while BMI did not. Blood tests for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein showed that inflammation explained about one-quarter to one-third of the association between abdominal fat and heart failure. Szu-Han Chen, lead author and medical student at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan, stated: 'This research helps us understand why some people develop heart failure despite having a body weight that seems healthy. By monitoring waist size and inflammation, clinicians may be able to identify people with higher risk earlier and focus on prevention strategies that could reduce the chance of heart failure before symptoms begin.' The work was conducted under Professor Hao-Min Cheng at Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. Sadiya S. Khan, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, commented: 'This study highlights the importance of integrating measures of central adiposity such as waist circumference into routine preventive care.' Researchers noted limitations, including lack of data on heart failure subtypes, and called for further studies on visceral fat's impact on specific types and potential benefits of reducing inflammation.
