Pot Bellies A Serious Health Risk
December 4th, 2008
New research suggests even the smallest of pot bellies may be a serious health risk.
US scientists examined more than 2700 men and women with an average age of 45 and say those with even a little fat around their waists are significantly more vulnerable to heart disease, even if their overall weight is normal. Their findings may come as a shock to many who would not consider themselves fat. But they reinforce a growing belief waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is a better measure of healthy shape than the widely used body mass index.
BMI, which is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in metres squared, gives an overall indication of heaviness compared with height. But BMI measurements would put well-toned specimens like Jonah Lomu into the overweight class.
The new study adds credibility to the theory that WHR is a more accurate means of measuring heart-disease risk because it identifies potentially dangerous “central obesity” even in those who are not overweight.
A breakdown of the participants in the study into five groups showed those with the highest WHR are almost twice as likely to have calcium deposits in their coronary arteries as those with the smallest WHR. Even when factors such as blood pressure, diabetes, age, high cholesterol levels and smoking were considered, the link remains strong.
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