Losing weight improves heart muscle contraction in people with obesity and heart failure
News-Medical.net
Last updated: April 26, 2026
New research indicates a strong link between severe obesity, a specific type of heart failure (heart failure with preserved ejection fraction or HFpEF), and weakened heart muscles. The study suggests that significant weight loss can lead to improvements in cardiac function for individuals with this condition.
- Key Findings: Individuals with severe obesity and HFpEF exhibit distinct abnormalities in their heart muscles, characterized by reduced relaxation and increased stiffness. These issues contribute to the heart's reduced ability to fill with blood effectively.
- The research involved 143 participants, with 84 having severe obesity and HFpEF, and 59 serving as a control group.
- Participants with obesity and HFpEF underwent a medically supervised weight loss program, aiming for at least a 10% reduction in body weight.
- Following weight loss, participants showed significant improvements in diastolic function, meaning their hearts could relax and fill with blood more efficiently.
- Key cardiac biomarkers related to heart muscle damage and strain, such as troponin and NT-proBNP, also decreased substantially after weight loss.
- The study highlights that these improvements were primarily driven by the loss of excess fat, particularly visceral fat, which directly impacts cardiac function.
- The findings suggest that aggressive weight management should be a cornerstone of treatment for patients suffering from severe obesity and HFpEF, offering a tangible path toward improving heart health and quality of life.
