A healthy middle-aged man nearly doubles his risk for a stroke if he is obese, according to a study of more than 7,000 Swedish men. In fact, an obese man with a body mass index (BMI) higher than 30 increases his chances of having a stroke by some 93 PERCENT!

If these numbers sound familiar to you, I'm not surprised. A 2002 study by physicians at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found a similar relationship between obesity and stroke. (In the earlier study, researchers found a one-unit increase in BMI raised one's risk of stroke by 6 percent.)

Two more interesting facts about this new study that ought to make you pay attention:

• This increased risk was present even when known stroke risk factors -- diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol -- were taken into account.
• This study followed Swedish men for 28 years, demonstrating that the bad habits men practice earlier in life have a profoundly negative effect on their health later on.

However, it's never too late to make your move to optimize your health! The road to living a healthier, happier life begins with a simple choice to incorporate more whole, nutritious foods and start eliminating processed foods that line most grocery store shelves and fast-food restaurants. This includes cutting out grains and sugars, because these are two of the major culprits behind gaining weight.

Yahoo News October 29, 2004