At the BEAT 2025: National Cardiovascular Summit and Awards, Dr. Peeyush Jain, Director of Non-Invasive Cardiology at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, shed light on the often-overlooked connection between obesity and heart health, urging a shift from viewing obesity as a cosmetic issue to recognizing it as a critical cardiovascular risk factor.
In his session titled “Obesity & the Heart – Why Treating Weight Protects More Than the Scale”, Dr. Jain emphasized that excess weight doesn’t just strain the body—it silently burdens the heart, leading to a range of complications including hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and coronary artery disease.
Dr. Jain discussed the vicious cycle between obesity and cardiovascular risk, explaining how fat accumulation—especially around the abdomen—alters metabolic pathways, impacts insulin resistance, and contributes to arterial stiffness. He highlighted that India’s rising obesity rates, coupled with sedentary lifestyles and poor dietary habits, are pushing younger populations toward early heart disease.
He called for a comprehensive approach to treatment, combining dietary interventions, physical activity, behavioral therapy, and pharmacological options where necessary.
Dr. Jain also underscored the importance of public health awareness, saying that prevention through lifestyle modification must become a national priority to curb the growing cardiovascular burden. “If we treat obesity early, we protect not only the heart but the future of public health in India,” he concluded.
The session was part of a broader dialogue at BEAT 2025, which brought together India’s leading cardiologists, researchers, and policymakers to discuss innovations, prevention strategies, and clinical practices shaping the future of cardiovascular care.