Study Shows Circumference of Your Waist Can Signal Multiple Health Issues
There are many reasons to shed extra pounds and whittle your waist. Among them is assuring you'll live a long life, according to a recent study by the renowned Mayo Clinic.
Researchers analyzed data from some 650,000 adults and found that waist circumference is an important number when looking at your health and longevity. Among the highlights:
- Women with waists over 37 inches have an 80-percent higher risk of conditions like heart disease, lung problems or cancer compared to women whose waist span was under 27 inches.
- Men with a waist circumference of 43 inches were at 52-percent greater risk of death than men with a 37-inch waist.
- Every two-inch increase translated into a 9-percent increased mortality risk.
The numbers come down to a waist-to-hip ratio. When the stomach measurement is 90 percent or more of the hip measurement in men, or 85 percent or more of the hip measurement in women, it's a red flag for a myriad of health risks. Excessive abdominal fat is associated with multiple obesity-related conditions, including type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease.
Need help whittling your own waist? Metabolic Research Center's weight loss counselors can help develop a customized nutrition and exercise plan just for you. Call 800-501-8090 to schedule a consultation today.
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