Buckle up because we’re diving into some groundbreaking research that could change the way we think about weight and heart health. Your body mass index (BMI) isn’t just a number on a scale—it could be a key player in your risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Why BMI Matters BMI, which is calculated from your weight and height, has long been used as a marker for obesity. But it turns out, it’s not just about how much you weigh—it’s also about how much your weight changes over time. Yup, those ups and downs on the scale might be affecting your heart health more than you think.

The Study Breakdown Researchers looked at data from two big studies—the Million Veteran Program (MVP) and the UK Biobank (UKB)—to see if there’s a link between BMI variability and CVD. They followed thousands of people over several years, tracking their BMI changes and any cardiovascular events like heart attacks or strokes.

The Findings Here’s where it gets interesting: they found that people with more fluctuating BMI numbers had a higher risk of CVD, even after taking into account things like age, sex, and traditional risk factors. It didn’t matter if you were Hispanic, Black, or White—the risk was still there.

What This Means for You So, what does this mean for you and your heart health? Well, it suggests that those yo-yo diets and weight fluctuations might not just be messing with your jeans size—they could also be messing with your heart. But don’t panic just yet! More research is needed to understand exactly why BMI variability is linked to CVD and what we can do about it.

The Bottom Line Next time you’re thinking about starting another fad diet or crash workout plan, remember that your heart health is about more than just the number on the scale. It’s about finding sustainable ways to stay healthy and happy for the long haul.

Almuwaqqat Z, Hui Q, Liu C, Zhou JJ, Voight BF, Ho YL, Posner DC, Vassy JL, Gaziano JM, Cho K, Wilson PWF, Sun YV. Long-Term Body Mass Index Variability and Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Mar 4;7(3):e243062. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.3062. PMID: 38512255; PMCID: PMC10958234.