Last month, I blogged about a concept getting more attention in weight and health – the size of your waist may be even more important than the number on the scale. Now, two recent developments further highlight that point.
In that last post, I talked about a powerful study from the Mayo Clinic on a phenomenon called “normal-weight obesity.” That research indicated that more than half of American adults not considered overweight by regular standards such as Body Mass Index actually had high body-fat percentages, especially in their midsection. Those with wider waists also had higher rates of heart and metabolic risk factors.
Recent news illustrates that more findings support that idea. After looking at the health records of more than 20,000 people, researchers at Ohio State University spotted similar problems.
People included in the study who were not considered formally overweight but had a “marginally increased” waist circumference were much more likely to have high blood pressure than those with slim midsections. The scientists determined that adults with “normal” weights but a wide waist have an increased risk of cardiovascular problems.
In other words, Americans need to get a handle on their love handles.
Why? Having too much abdominal fat has been linked to the metabolic syndrome.This syndrome is a collection of heart disease risk factors that increase a person’s chances of developing stroke, diabetes and heart disease. More than a quarter of the world’s adult population already have metabolic syndrome, which is on the rise globally.
“As a practicing general internist, I do not routinely measure waist circumference as well as I should,” said Dr. Deborah A. Levine, an Ohio State assistant professor, as she presented the study results at an American Heart Association conference. “And I certainly don’t do it in persons with normal (Body Mass Index) at this time. But these data have prompted me to reconsider that practice.”
Other societies are ahead of us on that path. Japan takes waist size so seriously that health experts there are making the issue a national one. Under a new program, adults over the age of 40 should have their waistlines measured annually by their doctor or employer. Men and women with wider waists are directed to lose weight, see a doctor and are given dieting advice.
Here again, the focus is on health, not appearance. Health leaders in Japan have been concerned about obesity and metabolic syndrome for years. Despite having a reputation for having relatively slender citizens, Japan has seen its male population become about 10 percent heavier than it was 30 years ago.
Americans aren’t considering such formal steps. But national health experts do recommend that men not let their waistlines expand beyond 40 inches, while women are encouraged to keep theirs under 35. The International Diabetes Federation suggests that 37 inches for men and 31.5 inches for women would be better cutoff points, regardless of your height.
I think it is increasingly important for all of us to keep apprised of whether we are personally at risk. You can start by measuring an accurate measurement of your own waist. If you measure larger than you’d like, health leaders offer plenty of information on how we can address losing body fat – no need to jet off to Kyoto or Okinawa.
And since the Navigenics genetic health service includes health conditions related to metabolic syndrome and being overweight, we are looking at how we can factor this approach into the information we provide our members on reducing their own personal health risk factors.
domvodop Nov 15, 2008
I noticed many articles here are connected to a fat problem. Well, it is really actual nowadays with so many people are overweighted.