Body Mass Index is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of his height in meters (Getty)

A recent study revealed the ideal weight that a diabetic patient should maintain to reduce the risk of death from heart disease.

The study was conducted by researchers led by Dr. Xiaoyong Xu from Hubei University of Arts and Sciences Hospital, in Xiangyang, China. Its results will be presented at the European Obesity Conference, which will be held in Venice, Italy, between 12-15 May. The Eurek Alert website wrote about it.

The researchers used health data available from the UK Biobank. The study concluded that people under the age of 65 should maintain a body mass index in the normal range between 23-25 ​​to reduce the risk of death from heart disease.

It was found that maintaining the body mass index within these rates was associated with the lowest risk of death in this category of patients. While individuals over the age of 65 are advised to stay at a higher level within the 26-28 category to reduce the risk of death from heart disease.

Body mass index is calculated by dividing the patient's weight in kilograms by the square of his height in meters.

Maintaining a healthy weight plays a pivotal role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, especially in patients with type 2 diabetes, who are more susceptible to heart disease and death.

Researchers have also found a relationship between the risk of heart disease and waist circumference and the ratio of waist circumference to height. The greater the waist circumference, the greater the risk of death from heart disease, and the greater the ratio of waist circumference to height, the greater the risk of death from heart disease.

"We have proven that the optimal BMI for people with type 2 diabetes varies according to age," said Dr. Xiaoyong Xu.

"Our findings suggest that for older individuals who are moderately overweight but not obese, maintaining weight - rather than losing it - may be a more practical way to reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease." "

He adds, "Our findings also suggest that obesity may provide some protection against fatal diseases to some extent. Possible biological mechanisms in older people may be related to a lower rate of bone mass loss, which reduces the effects of falls and trauma."

Source: Al Jazeera + Agencies + Eurick Alert