Experts from the University of South Carolina revealed that women aged 35 to 54 experienced an increase in the possibility of experiencing stroke. In between 1988 and 1994, a woman's chance was 0.6 percent, but between 1999 and 2004 a woman's chance grew to 1.8 percent.
According to Dr. Amytis Twofighi, the rise of the stroke rate occurred as the obesity problem became more rampant. There were no indications of increase in the percentage of women smokers, those who had diabetes, or those who suffered from hypertension.
Relating the stroke rates to women's weight, the study found that the waistline of women involved in the 1999-2004 study had an average of 4 centimeters more than those in the 1988-1994 study. There was also a noted difference in the body mass index, with the average rising from 27.11 to 28.67.
"Abdominal obesity is a known predictor of stroke in women and may be a key factor in the midlife stroke surge in women," Towfighi said, as quoted by WKYC.
Blood pressure rates also changed, as 14.8 percent of the women from the later study reported taking medication to lower blood pressure, while the earlier study showed only 8.9 percent of the women doing so.
"This study highlights the need to intensify efforts in curbing the obesity epidemic in the United States," said Towfighi.
Daniel T. Lackand of the USC and a spokesman of the American Stroke Association commended the study, but noted that the other risk factors that involve obesity.
"What many have shown is that if you increase obesity, you increase the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and also lipid abnormalities," HealthDay News quoted Lackland. "Is obesity an independent risk factor for stroke? The study was not designed to show that."
