Obesity can pose many heart health risks, such as high blood pressure, heart attack, and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that those who are obese with a heart rhythm problem known as atrial fibrillation, or A. fib, can rid themselves of it with just a little bit of weight loss.

Researchers at the University of Adelaide in Australia looked at 355 adults who were obese and had had A.fib for over four years. The subjects who lost about 10 percent of their weight were six times more likely to free themselves from symptoms of A. fib than those who did not lose any weight. Nearly half of people who lost 10 percent of their weight were free of A. fib, while only one-tenth of those who lost 3 percent of their weight or less were free of their A. fib symptoms. In addition, it was found that those who had 5 percent or more gains and losses in a yo-yo pattern in between their yearly check-ups were twice as likely to have heart problems as those who had a more stable weight pattern.

Experts suggest that sustained weight loss can not only help reduce symptoms of A. fib, but can also lower your risk of sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes, and prevent damage to the structure of the heart. Eating a heart healthy meal plan, staying active, managing stress, getting plenty of sleep, and not smoking are just some of the ways you can improve your lifestyle to manage your weight and keep your heart strong for.