Obesity does not limit heart rehab exercise gains

If you are starting cardiac rehab after a heart event, you might worry your weight will hold you back. A new review of 18 studies looked at whether people with obesity or overweight had different results in rehab compared to people with normal weight. The main goal was to see if exercise capacity improved differently. The review found no significant difference in exercise capacity gains between groups. It also found no major differences in changes to BMI, HDL cholesterol, heart rate, or blood pressure. Total cholesterol improved slightly more in non-obese individuals, and triglyceride reduction was greater in people with a normal BMI. The studies included patients undergoing cardiac rehab after cardiac events and surgeries. Safety events were not reported. The review notes high variation across studies and differences in rehab programs, which can limit firm conclusions. So while starting weight did not clearly affect rehab progress, the evidence is not strong enough to make firm claims.