Pot belly, love handles, spare tire -- whatever you call it, excess weight around your middle is no laughing matter. Abdominal fat is a strong risk factor for heart attacks. In fact, many doctors now believe that waist size may be even more important than body mass index in predicting coronary heart disease. And according to the latest research, adding hip size to the equation may make the prediction even more accurate.
Waist circumference. Numerous studies have found a link between waist circumference and heart attacks. In one of these studies researchers examined data on 27,000 people from 52 countries and reported that as waist circumference increased, so did the risk of a heart attack. In fact, men and women with the largest waist circumferences had close to double the heart attack risk as those with the smallest waist sizes.
Waist-to-hip ratio. Other research suggests that people can get even more information about their heart disease risk by measuring the circumference of their hips in addition to their waists. In a study of nearly 25,000 people, researchers reported that waist-only measurements underestimated heart disease risk by 10 to 20%, compared with measurements of waist-to-hip ratio. They also found that having a large waist was less of a problem if the person also had large hips, suggesting that accumulation of fat in the lower body -- even in people with significant fat accumulation in the abdomen -- may help protect against the dangers of abdominal obesity. In other words, a more even distribution of fat is less risky than fat predominantly in the abdomen.
Taking Measurements. To find out whether you're at risk, measure your bare midriff just above the hipbones using a standard tape measure. The measurement should be taken right after exhaling normally, with the tape held snugly but without compressing the skin.
Your waist measurement should be below 40 inches if you're a man or below 35 inches if you're a woman. Because people of Asian descent tend to have smaller builds, their waist measurements should be below 37 inches for men or 31 inches for women. To determine your waist-to-hip ratio, divide your waist circumference by a measurement of your hips at their widest point.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), men with a ratio of greater than 1.0 and women with a ratio of greater than 0.8 are at the greatest risk for heart disease.
