A new study has found that moderate weight loss can improve cardiovascular health in overweight people.

Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis followed 60 obese individuals for a period of two years. The participants ranged in age from 22 to 64 and had body mass indexes between 30 and 44.

During the study period, subjects followed a low-calorie diet and were instructed to exercise for about three and a half hours per week. Over the first six months of the study, they lost an average of 9 percent, or about 22 pounds. Cardiovascular benefits were seen after the initial six months.

Among the heart health benefits of the weight loss were decreased thickness of the heart muscle, increased pumping and relaxation of the heart and decreased thickness of the carotid artery walls.

"Over time, obesity leads to abnormal thickening of heart muscle because the heart works harder to pump blood throughout the body," said lead researcher Dr Lisa de las Fuentes. "After a while, the hearts of obese people can lose some of their pumping or relaxation ability, leading to heart failure. But our study suggests that by losing weight, people can turn back the clock and regain more youthful heart function."

Besides diet and exercise, other lifestyle changes that may improve heart health include reducing stress and controlling cholesterol and hypertension.