Lifetime Obesity (IMAGE) Johns Hopkins Medicine Caption People with lifetime obesity like Mr. A are at a much higher risk of heart failure than the newly obese at an older age like Mr. B. Obesity at any age can raise heart failure risk though. For every five-point increase in BMI, a person’s heart failure risk increases by 34 percent. Credit Johns Hopkins Medicine/Kristen West Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.