For cutting down heart attack and stroke, obese people have a proven do-it-yourself option: control blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.

According to USA Today, a new study, published in Lancet, has found that even those who cannot seem to lose weight can benefit from simple lifestyle changes. Controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar reduced risk of heart attack by half and stroke by three-quarters, according to the study data.

For the study, the researchers from Imperial College London, the University of Sydney and Harvard took data from 1.8 million participants in 97 studies worldwide. They compared the overweight people with normal-weight, as defined by body mass index (BMI).

The three risk factors - blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar - accounted for 17 percent extra chance of heart attack. They also accounted for 46 percent better chance of stroke. On its own, high blood pressure accounted for a 65 percent higher risk of heart attack and 31 percent for stroke.

"The glass is kind of half empty and half full," said study lead researcher Goodarz Danaei, assistant professor of global health at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. "You still need to control weight to get the full benefit."

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese. The CDC also says one-third has high blood pressure and half do not have their blood pressure under control.

Some of the participants in smaller studies did not provide information on exercise and diet habits, which obviously are very important for heart health. Danaei said the sheet size and magnitude of participants make up for the slight shortcoming.

While obesity can bring about several health concerns, including heart problems, there are many ways to manage weight and the extra risk. For example, making good diet decisions and exercising regularly is healthy for all adults no matter their BMI.