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The normal weight for adults is usually based on a
measurement known as body mass index (BMI), which
assesses weight relative to height. In a new study
researchers focused on people’s waist-to-hip ratio,
which measures whether they’re storing excess fat
around the middle and found that men with a normal
BMI but central obesity (the clinical term for belly
fat) had twice the mortality risk of men who were
overweight or obese according to BMI.
For example, a man with a normal BMI (22 kg/m2) and
central obesity had greater total mortality risk
than one with similar BMI but no central obesity,
and this man had twice the mortality risk of
participants who were overweight or obese according
to BMI only.
A man with normal-weight central obesity had a 78
percent higher risk of death from cardiovascular
disease.
For women in this same scenario, normal-weight
central obesity more than doubled the risk of death
from cardiovascular disease.
Women with normal-weight central obesity also had a
32 percent higher mortality risk than than those
with similar BMI but no central obesity and had
greater total mortality risk than those who were
obese according to BMI only. Expected survival
estimates were consistently lower for those with
central obesity when age and BMI were controlled
for.
To understand the connection between waist size and
mortality, researchers analyzed data on more than
15,000 adults surveyed from 1988 to 1994 and then
followed through 2006.
Based on BMI, about 40 percent of participants were
normal weight, while 35 percent were overweight and
25 percent were obese.
According to World Health Organization (WHO)
criteria, about 70 percent of participants were
centrally obese, meaning their waist-to-hip ratio
was at least 0.85 (for women) or at least 0.90 (for
men).
See also
Health-related quality of life, belly fat and
testosterone levels (2014-01-22)
Link...
Men with Belly Fat at Risk for Osteoporosis
(17/12/2012)
Link...
Supersized market economy, supersized belly:
Wealthier nations have more fast food and more
obesity (02/01/2012)
Link...
For more information
American College of Physicians
Annals of Internal Medicine
Normal-Weight Central Obesity: Implications for
Total and Cardiovascular Mortality
Link...
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