Dr. Oz on the Real Threat to the Sopranos

Dr. Mehmet Oz reflects on the untimely death of actor James Gandolfini, reminding us not to ignore the most obvious risk factor that may have caused the actor to have a heart attack at the age of 51: obesity. More than two-thirds of people in the U.S. are overweight, but many are hesitant to address the issue head-on. Dr. Oz asks, “But if we saw an anorexic teenager, we wouldn’t pretend she wasn’t heading for serious health trouble, so why should we be so coy at the other end of the weight spectrum?” Being overweight puts you at risk for serious conditions like hypertension and diabetes, which can both lead to heart attack or stroke. Being aware of the warning signs and risk factors associated with heart attacks can save your life, just as it did for Vincent Pastore and Frank Vincent, two of Gandolfini’s castmates on the Sopranos. Pastore and Vincent reflect on their own experiences, hoping to raise awareness and inspire others to take preventative steps to keep their hearts and bodies healthy.

Time, 6/24/13