There may be an easier and more accurate way to measure your body fat and associated health risks than your BMI (body mass index). New research presented at the 19th European Congress on Obesity suggests a better way is to measure your waist-to-height ratio. BMI is based on height and weight, and can help determine whether you are underweight, normal, overweight or obese, but it has its limitations, because it does not account for muscle mass. It also requires a calculator. With a simple tape measure at belly button level, measure your waist circumference. Keeping it to less than half your height has been found to be a better predictor for being overweight or obese, with the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. A review of 31 studies of more than 300,000 men and women confirmed the findings. Keeping your waist circumference to less than half your height can help increase your life expectancy.
As reported in WebMD
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