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Losing significant weight can rejuvenate the heart physically, and it makes no difference as to whether it is by surgery or through dieting and exercise, according to a new study. This is good news, especially since people who are considered obese have a much higher risk of heart attacks or sudden death than people of average weight.

A University of Oxford study published in the Aug. 18 issue of Journal of the American College of Cardiology indicates that heart muscles of obese individuals who started with a body mass index averaging 40 became thinner and more efficient when the BMI was brought down to an average level of 32.2 in a single year. The study followed 37 individuals who had weight loss averaging about 45 pounds.

To document the affects of the heart from weight loss, the British researchers used a cardiac MRI. Findings showed that the walls of the left and right ventricles, which are considered the blood-pumping chambers of the heart, were significant thicker in the hearts of people who are obese. In addition, researchers found an impaired ability of the heart in extremely overweight individuals to hold blood at the resting point of the heartbeat, called diastole.

When test subjects had cardiac MRIs performed a year later after losing significant weight, the heart muscles were less overgrown and hearts could hold more blood at diastole. Another plus was that the thickening of the aorta was also greatly reduced.

Researchers wrote in their report that “these findings provide a potential mechanism in mortality seen with weight loss.” Further, since the improved heart health was not lessened due to weight loss surgery vs. diet and exercise, it is another positive reason to consider weight loss surgery for obese individuals who have not achieved their weight loss goals.