Waist Size More Accurate In Predicting Death From Heart Disease

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Waist Size More Accurate In Predicting Death From Heart Disease

New research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests that waist circumference is a much better indicator of one’s risk of death from heart disease than widely used measures, such as Body Mass Index (BMI). The researchers found that patients with known heart disease who have a high ratio of waist-to-hip circumference and large waists — greater than 35 inches for women, or 40 inches for men — were 70% more likely to die during the study period than those with smaller waists. The combination of a large waist and a high BMI further increased the risk of death. “What matters probably the most is the distribution of fat, more than anything else,” says the lead researcher, Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D., a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota. This study drives home what we are beginning to learn more about – that the patient’s body shape and fat distribution is extremely important when it comes to heart disease, and BMI tells us nothing about a person’s body habitus. But, why is belly fat so bad? Research has shown that this type of fat that surrounds the organs in the abdomen tends to promote development of insulin resistance (which can increase the risk for diabetes), worsen cholesterol levels, and also increase inflammation, all of which can lead to worsened heart disease. [via CNN]

Learn more about Waist-Hip Ratio.

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