Obese women may be twice as likely to suffer from heart attack and stroke after having a baby, a new Danish study claims.
A nationwide study of women in Denmark who are of child-bearing age finds that those who are obese appear to have a much greater risk of heart attack or stroke.
Women with a high body mass index (BMI) - a measure of the body's fat content - that is indicative of obesity were twice as likely as those of normal weight to suffer a potentially life-threatening heart attack or stroke within just four to five years following childbirth.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen said that while these cardiac events are very rare among women of this age, there is a very clear and strong link between carrying excess weight and suffering a heart attack or stroke.
These associations remained unchanged even after accounting for other pregnancy-associated complications or cardiovascular risk factors, including smoking.
"Young women need to be aware that there are serious health risks associated with obesity and poor lifestyle habits, and these (negative effects) appear to set in early," said Michelle Schmiegelow, the study's lead investigator.
"This study is important because although the incidence of heart disease is declining overall, this downward trend doesn't seem to apply to women 35 to 44 years of age," Schmiegelow said in a statement.
According to Schmiegelow, the study is the largest to date, and gives investigators a better glimpse into the role of obesity and cardiac events at younger ages. Previous studies have typically involved women older than 45 years.
Interestingly, authors also found that women who were underweight were slightly more prone to having a heart attack or stroke as well, although this trend needs to be further investigated.
While this evaluation was limited to women who had given birth, she believes it is applicable to other young, healthy women in Denmark and in other countries, Schmiegelow said.
