Bigger Waist Means Shorter Lifespan
Bigger Waist Means Shorter Lifespan: Mayo Study
Friday, 14 Mar 2014 01:59 PM
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Having a big belly means big trouble when it comes to your health, researchers warn.
They analyzed data from 11 studies that included more than 600,000 people worldwide and found that people with large waist circumferences were at increased risk of dying younger and dying from conditions such as heart disease, lung problems and cancer.
Men with waists of 43 inches or more had a 50 percent higher risk of death than those with waists less than 35 inches. This equated to a three-year lower life expectancy after age 40, according to the study.
Women with waists of 37 inches or more had an 80 percent higher risk of death than those with waists of 27 inches or less, which equated to a five-year lower life expectancy after age 40.
The larger the waist, the greater the risk, the researchers said. For every 2 inches of increased waist circumference, the risk of death increased 7 percent in men and 9 percent in women, according to the study, which was published in the March issue of the journalMayo Clinic Proceedings.
Although the review found an association between larger waist size and risk of death at a younger age, it didn't prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
The link between a big belly and increased risk of death was seen even among people whose body-mass index (BMI) was within the healthy range, the researchers found. BMI is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight.
"BMI is not a perfect measure," study lead author Dr. James Cerhan, an epidemiologist at the Mayo Clinic, said in a journal news release. "It doesn't discriminate lean mass from fat mass, and it also doesn't say anything about where your weight is located. We worry about that because extra fat in your belly has a metabolic profile that is associated with diseases such as diabetes and heart disease."
When assessing patients, doctors need to consider both waist size and BMI.
"The primary goal should be preventing both a high BMI and a large waist circumference," Cerhan said. "For those patients who have a large waist, trimming down even a few inches -- through exercise and diet -- could have important health benefits." more
Friday, 14 Mar 2014 01:59 PM
•
Having a big belly means big trouble when it comes to your health, researchers warn.
They analyzed data from 11 studies that included more than 600,000 people worldwide and found that people with large waist circumferences were at increased risk of dying younger and dying from conditions such as heart disease, lung problems and cancer.
Men with waists of 43 inches or more had a 50 percent higher risk of death than those with waists less than 35 inches. This equated to a three-year lower life expectancy after age 40, according to the study.
Women with waists of 37 inches or more had an 80 percent higher risk of death than those with waists of 27 inches or less, which equated to a five-year lower life expectancy after age 40.
The larger the waist, the greater the risk, the researchers said. For every 2 inches of increased waist circumference, the risk of death increased 7 percent in men and 9 percent in women, according to the study, which was published in the March issue of the journalMayo Clinic Proceedings.
Although the review found an association between larger waist size and risk of death at a younger age, it didn't prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
The link between a big belly and increased risk of death was seen even among people whose body-mass index (BMI) was within the healthy range, the researchers found. BMI is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight.
"BMI is not a perfect measure," study lead author Dr. James Cerhan, an epidemiologist at the Mayo Clinic, said in a journal news release. "It doesn't discriminate lean mass from fat mass, and it also doesn't say anything about where your weight is located. We worry about that because extra fat in your belly has a metabolic profile that is associated with diseases such as diabetes and heart disease."
When assessing patients, doctors need to consider both waist size and BMI.
"The primary goal should be preventing both a high BMI and a large waist circumference," Cerhan said. "For those patients who have a large waist, trimming down even a few inches -- through exercise and diet -- could have important health benefits." more
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View all 6 comments Below 6 comments
Sir , Thank you. Need to be circulated widely for the benefit of mothers and the teenagers to restrict usage of fast food, viz Pizza, bread , buns,, Kachoris samosas etc. more
Mar 20
Rameshji. I am humbled by your compliments. Yes I agree with you that such Research needs a lot of effort, time , funds and Volunteers. Regards. more
Mar 20
Thanks, Sir. Institutions conducting such studies deserve high appreciation as it goes a long way in furthering research and development. We hardly find words to express our gratitude to you for highlighting such studies, which inspire us to take care of our total health. Frankly, article has inspired me to reduce my waist by 1" to bring it to 35". Such will be the cases in general and We all pray to Almighty God for receiving your continuous precious guidance in future. Regards. more
Mar 18
