According to a new study, even a little extra weight can increase the risk of heart disease. People who are not obese but a little overweight, have an increase in heart failure risk, reported Dr. Satish Kenchaiah, lead author of the study.

The study has followed 21,091 smart and healthy doctors with no evidence of coronary disease over 20 years. In this group, which now averages 53 years of age, as per pound added on, the risk of heart problem increased. The obese doctors show 180% of increase in the risk of heart failure than the leaner ones.

The report released in the journal Circulation, shows that exercise can protect the heart. Even for those people who are overweight or frankly obese, physical activity significantly decreased the risk of heart attack. As compared with the chubbier or less active compatriots, the lean and active men were the ones with strongest hearts. The study also found that those who never or rarely exercised were more likely to have high blood pressure or diabetes.

Dr. Gerald Fletcher, a preventive cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. said: "Not being obese but being overweight is definitely a risk factor for heart failure." He added, "Vigorous exercise makes the difference. The more you do, the better it is for you."