Waist size as a health indicator

According to a study to be published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, waist circumference (and a related index, waist to hip ratio) are better indicators of cardiovascular problems than body mass index (BMI), which is currently the measure used to define obesity. BMI alone might not be strongest predictor of coronary disease. The researchers found that subjects with the highest waist-to-hip ratio had a twofold increase in the incidence of calcium deposits, which is highly correlated with future cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks.

“Fat that accumulates around your waist seems to be more biologically active as it secretes inflammatory proteins that contribute to atherosclerotic plaque buildup, whereas fat around your hips doesn’t appear to increase risk for cardiovascular disease at all,” according to senior author Dr. J. de Lemos said. “We think the key message for people is to prevent accumulation of central fat early on in their lives. To do so, they will need to develop lifelong dietary and exercise habits that prevent the development of the ‘pot belly.”