Watch your waistline!

According to a study from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, a larger waistline is a better predictor of heart disease than weight.  Even for those who are not overweight, a larger waistline measurement is found to show early signs of heart disease than those with a smaller waistline. 

In the study, the researchers used a few different measures to check for clogged arteries and found a direct relationship with waistline size and early indications of heart disease, regardless of the person’s weight.  It is important to note that this does not only affect those who are overweight.  Other studies have shown that waist size is related to heart attacks, strokes and heart disease.  Guidelines from the U.S. Government suggest that men have a waistline of 40 inches or less and women 35 inches or less. 

It is important to understand that heart disease affects those who are not overweight as well.  While also looking at those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other heart factors, they found that waist size, not weight, affected these as well.  As well as decreasing your waistline, the article gives other ways to decrease your risk of heart disease. 

Add comment August 14th, 2007