Doctor Le Ba Ngoc, Deputy Director of the Center for Weight Control and Obesity Treatment at Tam Anh General Hospital in Hanoi, stated that uncontrolled high blood pressure is a primary risk factor for strokes. According to the World Stroke Organization (WSO), overweight individuals have a 22% increased risk of stroke, while the risk for obese individuals is 64%.

Obesity is not merely a cosmetic concern; it significantly impacts health and contributes to the development of many dangerous diseases. Visceral fat, surrounding abdominal organs, releases inflammatory substances. This chronic inflammation damages blood vessel linings, reducing elasticity and promoting plaque and clot formation, directly leading to strokes.

Overweight and obese individuals also face a higher risk of blood lipid disorders, including increased LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides, and decreased HDL (good cholesterol). Excess LDL tends to deposit in artery walls, forming plaque that narrows blood vessels, including those in the brain. This reduces blood flow and increases the risk of blockages causing ischemic strokes.

Visceral fat also increases insulin resistance, leading to type 2 diabetes. Chronically high blood sugar, combined with lipid disorders, further elevates the risk of blood vessel damage, narrowing, and blockage, increasing the risk of stroke.

Doctor Ngoc consults with a patient. Photo illustration: Tam Anh General Hospital

Doctor Ngoc consults with a patient. Photo illustration: Tam Anh General Hospital

"Obesity also affects the effectiveness of stroke treatment," Doctor Ngoc said. Obese individuals are more susceptible to dangerous complications like pneumonia and infections due to weakened immune systems and reduced cardiopulmonary function. This also makes post-stroke motor function recovery more challenging. Stroke itself can cause complications such as paralysis, confusion, depression, memory loss, sleep disturbances, thromboembolic disease, urinary tract infections, and exhaustion.

According to the WSO, stroke is a leading cause of death and disability globally. Stroke survivors often face severe motor, cognitive, and mental health consequences, resulting in substantial healthcare, rehabilitation, and financial burdens.

Vietnam has a high stroke incidence, estimated at over 218 per 100,000 people. The average age of stroke patients in Vietnam is around 62, 10 years younger than in developed countries. Doctor Ngoc advises overweight and obese individuals to lose 7-10% of their body weight to reduce the risk of related conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke.

Minh Duc