Research has found that obesity directly causes electrical abnormalities of the heart.

In atrial fibrillation, the electrical impulse of the heart is not regular. The atria are contracting very quickly and not in a regular pattern. This makes the ventricles beat abnormally, leading to an irregular (and usually fast) pulse. As a result, the heart may be working harder and may no longer be able to pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body.

Cardiologist and Ph.D. candidate Dr. Hany Abed says that there is evidence that obesity changes the structure and size of the heart muscles and the way it works and contracts, as well as the electrical function.

Obesity leads to atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) in atrial fibrillation, the electrical impulse of the heart is not regular. The atria are contracting very quickly and in an irregular pattern, making the ventricles beat abnormally. As a result, the heart may be working harder and may no longer be able to pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body, according to NIH.

An estimated 2.66 million people had atrial fibrillation in 2010 and continues to rise yearly. By 2050, as many as 12 million people will have the condition.

Dr. Abed is working with the University of Adelaide’s Centre for Heart rhythm disorders and the Discipline of Medicine to confirm how obesity affects the heart and whether losing weight can actually reduce the risk of developing atrial fibrillation.

"We already know that obesity causes an increase in blood pressure and puts strain on the heart. Current basic laboratory research using a sheep model also shows that obesity causes electrical abnormalities in the heart chamber," said Abed.

In the research health sector estimates two thirds of the incidence of atrial fibrillation by the year 2020 will be due to obesity.

The researcher said that while obesity is not restricted to an age group, those most at risk of atrial fibrillation are the elderly, who are becoming fatter increasing their chances of developing the heart disorder.

"The costs to the health system and the community are enormous. However, early results in our research show that atrial fibrillation can be reversed if people lose weight."

Treatment of atrial fibrillation in the U.S. represents a significant health care burden. The estimated cost of the treatment of atrial fibrillation in 2005 was $6.65 billion per year, including the costs of hospitalization, in- and outpatient physician care, and medications, according to the CDC