More calories, weight straining hearts

Americans' heart health is in a woeful state, says this year's report card from the American Heart Association. And it's largely because people just aren't taking care of themselves.

In the past three or so decades, women have upped their calorie consumption by 22 percent and men by 10 percent, with carbohydrates and sugar-sweetened beverages both major sources of unneeded calories.

And so more than two-thirds of U.S. adults and about one-third of children are over the ideal body weight, the extra layers of fat putting a major strain on Americans' hearts.

Weight isn't the only problem. Neither adults nor children are exercising enough, and about 21 percent of men and 18 percent of women still smoke.

"This is very disturbing but not at all surprising," said Dr. Robert Michler, co-director of the Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care in New York City. "Heart disease is this nation's number-one killer and the continued growth of our nation's waistline will deliver serious consequences."

The report appeared online Thursday in the journal Circulation. -- HealthDay