Large Waist Doubles Risk of Premature Death
I'm sure most of us already know that a big waist = bad, but this study caught my eye due to;
a) The sheer size of it (300,000 + participants)
and
b) That these findings were independent of body mass index (BMI). Here are some more details of the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
- The risk of premature death was approximately double for subjects with a larger waist versus those with a smaller waist.
- A larger waist for men was more than 47.2" (120cm) and for women it was more than 39.4" (100cm).
- A smaller waist for men was less than 31.5" (80cm) and for women, it was and less than 25.6" (65cm).
- Each 2.5" (5cm) increase in waist circumference increased the mortality risk by 17% in men and 13% in women.
- The waist to hip ratio was also revealed as an important indicator of health in the study. The smaller the waist relative to the hips, the better.
Why it's not good to have a Big Waist
A fat belly is usually indicative of a fat liver. When the liver has excess fat, it makes it difficult to perform its many functions. The researchers in the study point out that fatty tissue in this area causes the release of hormones and inflammatory markers which can lead to chronic disease.
Waist Measurement: Major Indicator, Minor Expense
A cloth tape measure costs very little and measuring your waist and hips is relatively easy. Here are some quick instructions on how to do it.
Waist:
- Measure the narrowest portion of the waist (usually just below the lowest ribs). This area should be unclothed
- Pull the tape firmly (but not tightly) around the waist, ensuring that there are no "bubbles" in the tape.
- Take a normal breath in and out - take note of number upon exhalation.
- Use a mirror to ensure tape is not crooked.
Women: Measurement should be less than 35"
Men: Less then 40"
Hips:
- With feet together, wrap tape around largest part of buttocks and take note of number. Be sure tape is not crooked.
Calculating waist to hip ratio:
- Example: Waist 38, Hips 41. 38/41 = .93
Women: Waist to hip ratio should be less than .82
Men: Waist to hip ratio should be less than .94
Sources:
Eureka Alerts
ACSM's Guidelines for Testing and Exercise Prescription. 2000
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I've been wondering about this for a while now....(and I still don't know the answer) but why is it that at menopause, the majority of women seem to grow more apple-shaped? I mean if this is happening to all women from all cultures (and if you look at average weight charts for women from all over the world there is a trend, they pick up weight up to about age 55 and then it starts to decline again)... Iis it just that the body doesn't know what it's doing during menopause? That we're all getting fatty livers? I know that for myself: If anything my eating habits are vastly improved and I'm not eating any more (quantity-wise) than I used to, I'm way more active than I've ever been... and yet, along with a few stray eyebrows (yes I found them languishing on my chin the other day), and other menopausal symptoms - I have also picked up weight around my middle. So I'm watching my body with a great deal of interest.
ReplyI have heard it has something to do with the change of hormones. During our childbearing years, when we have lots of estrogen, the weight goes on in the hips and thighs to be used for energy during breast feeding. As the estrogen drops and there is relatively more testosterone floating around the body, women put the weight on in their tummy, just like men. Not sure if that's true, but it sounds convincing.
ReplyWell, this is my point exactly - that if hormonally millions of women all around the globe are experiencing this weight gain around their midriffs through menopause - then I have to wonder if it isn't one of those times in our life when our body follows a Sacred Biological order that is actually protective of our health in some or other way. Only we start to panic because we've heard so much about belly fat and how bad it is... so I don't know.
When I was researching menopause and weight to write about it on the Ditch Diets Live Light site I was interested to read recently of a study done with rats where they injected viseral fat around their bellies (they were doing this to test a totally different hypothesis) and scientists were amazed that belly fat might have some or other protective function they hadn't considered before.
ReplyMike,
Great overview of the article. I suspect there is a (very) high correlation of waist circumference to body fat percentage.
I usually use the US Navy calculation for body fat percentage, which includes neck and waist circumference in the measure for men, and adds in a hips measurement for women.
The moral, though, is to measure your waist to get a sense of your baseline, and then TAKE ACTION to get your waist size below the targets in the article (40 in and 35 in for men and women respectively).
Again, nice summary!
ReplyI'm not sure I believe all this about the waist size inches. I am 6'7" and I have a 40" waist w/ not alot of belly fat. So I think we are dealing with scare tactics here. There is no way I can reduce my waist size with my height, at least no more than an inch, or so. These surveys should give all the facts. Taller people weigh more....a fact!!
ReplyI get confused by this too...That we can assign a specific waist measurement as bad or good depending on whether you fall above or below it? I heard Dr. Oz say the same thing. The ratio between waist and hips, I totally get. I'm a wardrobe stylist and I dressed a bunch of NBA players for a commercial and many wore size 40 (inch) pants and some even bigger (and XXL and XXXL T-shirts). These guys were super fit, but just extremely large.
ReplyVery true - I don't think there is a "cut-off" whereby you gain an inch and you are all of the sudden at risk of dying. There are other risk factors involved. WHR measurements are fairly easy to do and can tell you a lot about your risk but it's not the whole picture.
BTW, can you divulge who you've outfitted? I'm curious
ReplyI think WHR (waist-hip-ratio) is more critical than absolute measure of waistline since, as you've said, the taller one is the larger their waist - someone 5' tall with a waist of 40" is very different than someone 6' tall with an identical waist measurement, whom is different than someone at 6'7" with an identical waist measurement.
ReplyInteresting study. I also agree with everyone else that WHR is probably a much better indicator of health than just waist size alone. I'm short and stocky with a lot of muscles. My waist is not exactly tiny because all my organs need somewhere to go, lol. But I do have a good WHR because my hips are pretty decently sized. Still, it does make sense that an arbitrary cutoff number for waist size is kind of stupid, only because people are built so differently. You have to take other things into account when you're looking at an indicator of health...a tall woman who is very athletic and has a 36 inch waist could be much healthier than a petite couch potato with a waist of 32 inches.
ReplyIt's nice to see that the study was independent of BMI.
ReplyMike, don't you think the title of the post is a little misleading? It's not just a "larger waistline" it would be the extremes of obesity tested that doubles the risk.
I would have liked to have seen physical activity levels in the study for it to be really comprehensive.
ReplyPoint taken, cereal - I suppose there is much to be interpreted from the wording. "Large" is certainly relative.
ReplyHow premature? I think rather than obsess over a little gut, you should be asking yourself why you fear death. Overcoming your fear of death will do far more for you than burning off some stored energy.
ReplyI don't believe this. If I have a little gut but eat right, exercise, keep my stress low I'm going to die BECAUSE my waist ratio is in the danger range. Whatever. I'm sick of the IF YOU ARE FAT YOU ARE GOING TO DIE EARLY scare, I've been hearing about this fat epidimic thing for over 30 years and nothing has happened. I'm over it. I want wellness and happiness, not fear.
Reply