The more a person is overweight, the higher the risk of a stroke, say US researchers from the University of Minnesota.

For 19 years, scientists have monitored the health status of 13,549 middle-aged people. It turned out that the risk of stroke in some cases also varies depending on the sex and ethnicity.

Experts have found that in people with a high body mass index (BMI), the probability of stroke is increased in 1.43 - 2.12 times. In subjects with excess fatty deposits at the waist, the risk is increased by 1.65 to 3.19 times. And those who are diagnosed with obesity, based on the ratio of waist to hip size, the chances of becoming victims of stroke are increased by 1.69 - 2.55 times.

The greatest risk is for black Americans who are obese, to a lesser extent - Asians. However, in men and women who belonged to the category of subjects with the highest excess weight, the probability of a stroke was doubled regardless of ethnicity.

Scientists also found that obese people have 8% less brain tissue than their peers with normal weight. In addition, the brain of fat people looks 16 years older than slender peers, experts said..

Medicinform. Net.