Scientists shared new data at the American Heart Association’s 2026 EPI|Lifestyle meeting in Boston. The research says that fat stored around the middle of the body – called visceral or central fat – can boost the chance of developing heart failure, and that inflammation is a big part of the problem.
The study found that the amount of belly fat mattered more for heart risk than a person’s total body weight. Even people with a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) but a large waist were more likely to get heart failure. This suggests that where fat lives in the body is more important than how much fat there is overall. Checking waist size could be a better way to find people who need help, compared with using BMI alone.
The Role of Inflammation
A 2025 statement from the American Heart Association warned that whole‑body inflammation can damage blood vessels, weaken the immune system, and cause scar tissue to form in the heart. Higher inflammation levels have been linked to heart disease even when cholesterol looks normal.
Key Points From the Research
- During an average follow‑up of almost seven years, 112 participants developed heart failure.
- People with more belly fat faced a higher risk, while BMI alone did not predict the disease.
- Both waist circumference and waist‑to‑height ratio showed strong connections to risk.
- Higher blood‑test inflammation markers meant a greater chance of heart failure.
- Inflammation explained roughly 25‑35% of the link between belly fat and heart failure.
What This Means for Doctors and Patients
Experts say doctors should start measuring waist size as a regular part of check‑ups. Knowing that belly fat and inflammation drive heart failure can help doctors give better advice and create plans to lower risk.
Study Limits and Future Work
The research did not separate different types of heart failure, so the results apply to the condition overall. Future studies should explore how belly fat and inflammation affect each heart‑failure subtype and whether cutting inflammation can lower risk.
How the Study Was Done
Researchers looked at data from 1,998 African‑American adults (ages 35‑84, average age 58) who were part of the Jackson Heart Study. None had heart failure when the study began between 2000 and 2004. Over a median of 6.9 years, participants were tracked until the end of 2016.
Scientists measured weight, BMI, waist size, and waist‑to‑height ratio. Blood samples were tested for high‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein, a common marker of inflammation. The project was led by Professor Hao‑Min Cheng of Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang‑Ming Chiao‑Tung University.