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Extra
Pounds Could Dim Your Eyesight Wed
Jun 11,11:48 PM ET
By Colette Bouchez (HealthDay is the new
name for HealthScoutNews.)
WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDayNews) -- How much you weigh and whether you
exercise could influence more than just your jean size. It might also have a powerful impact
on the progression of age-related macular degeneration, a disease affecting some
1.7 million Americans and a major cause of blindness among seniors, reports a
study in the June issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology. "What makes this research unique
is that it involved evaluation of the progression of this disease, and a
documentation that certain factors -- most notably body mass index and exercise
-- can play a role in how quickly that progression occurs," says study
author Dr. Johanna M. Seddon, of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. The idea that these factors could be
modified and controlled makes the finding that much more meaningful and
important to patients, Seddon adds. Age-related macular degeneration
(AMD) develops when the high concentration of light-sensing cells in the central
portion of the retina -- the area known as the macula -- malfunction or begin to
lose function. Initially, this causes a decrease in central vision and the
inability to see fine detail. Eventually, it destroys sight, plunging some
200,000 seniors into total blindness each year. While doctors aren't certain why
weight and exercise make a difference, Seddon believes either may influence
inflammation in the tiny blood vessels that remove waste products from the
retina. "Right now we know that some of
the same risk factors for heart disease -- smoking, obesity and lack of exercise
-- also affect the progression of AMD," Seddon says. For ophthalmologist Dr. Robert
Cykiert, the study is an important step forward for patients with this
devastating disease. "Because AMD has no known cure,
slowing down the progression is the only tool that patients have to preserve
their eyesight. So, obviously, anything that can help accomplish this is
vital," says Cykiert, a clinical associate professor of ophthalmology at
New York University Medical Center. While he says it's important that the
finding is verified by larger studies, he adds this: "I would tell any
overweight patients at risk for AMD, or with AMD, that it's probably a good idea
to lose some weight, particularly since obesity is associated with so many other
diseases." The new study involved 102 men and
159 women, aged 60 or older, diagnosed with signs of non-advanced AMD. Patient interviews documented risk
factors, including smoking and alcohol consumption, while a dietary
questionnaire detailed total daily intake of calories, carotenoids such as beta
carotene and alcohol. Also considered was previous history of cardiovascular
disease, cancer, or diabetes, and any regularly used medication. Height, weight, and blood pressure
measurements were taken, and each patient had a thorough eye exam. These tests,
along with the food questionnaire, were repeated annually. Patients also
self-reported waist and hip measurements, along with documenting physical
activity and regular exercise regimes, throughout the study period. The average
follow-up time for each patient was 4.6 years, with some followed for as long as
seven years. The result: Patients with a high body
mass index (25 to 29, which constitutes "overweight," and 30 or more,
which is considered "obese") experienced the fastest AMD disease
progression -- nearly twice as fast as those with a lower body mass index. Moreover, those with a higher waist
circumference -- indicating a greater amount of weight in the midsection -- saw
a twofold increased risk for the progression of AMD. On a more positive note, those who
participated in regular exercise saw a reduction in disease progression -- up to
25 percent for those who engaged in vigorous activity three times a week or
more. This, says Seddon, was independent of any weight loss. The next step, say researchers, is to
discover if losing weight can reverse the path of the disease. |