Excess weight alone can lead to heart disease

MIDDLE-AGED people who are overweight but have normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels are kidding themselves if they think their health is just fine, scientists have warned.

Northwestern University researchers tracked 17,643 patients for three decades and found that being overweight in mid-life substantially increased the risk of dying of heart disease later in life - even in people who began the study with healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

High blood pressure and cholesterol are strong risk factors for heart disease.