57–year–old John Paradiso went on a statin to lower his cholesterol after his Doctor told him he had heart disease.In addition to taking medication, Paradiso, stopped eating red meat and started a heart healthy diet.
But a new study finds that's not the case for many people on statins.
Dr. Suzanne SSteinbaumis a cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital.
"What we have seen is that overtime people who have been on statins are eating more calories and eating more fat."
The study in JAMA Internal Medicine looked at nearly 30–thousand people over ten years and found people using cholesterol lowering drugs ate more and gained weight. Researchers saw an increase in total fat and saturated fats, which is the least healthy kind, in statin users.
"If you perceive your cholesterol is normal, you don't have as much as an incentive to watch what you eat," says Study author Dr. Martin Shapiro at UCLA.
Millions of Americans are on statins.
And under recent guidelines, a third of U.S. adults could be advised to take them.
Dr. Shapiro says while the drugs work well, there's more to preventing heart disease than just lowering cholesterol..
"Taking medications should not be a substitute for trying to live one's life healthier."
Paradiso is making healthier choices. He exercises regularly and eats plenty of fish, fruits and vegetables.
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