Waist Size May Reveal More About Heart Health

ISLAMABAD: (News Desk) – A new study suggests that waist size and body-fat distribution may offer a clearer picture of cardiovascular health than body weight or body mass index (BMI) alone.

Researchers from the Cross Cohort Collaboration analysed data from nearly 260,000 people involved in 15 long-term medical studies. Participants were followed for almost two decades.

The findings, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, indicate that people with larger waist measurements or higher waist-to-hip ratios faced a 15% to 50% greater risk of various cardiovascular conditions and death.

Why BMI May Not Tell the Full Story

BMI is calculated using a person’s weight and height, but it does not show where fat is located in the body.

Researchers noted that abdominal fat, particularly fat stored deep within the abdomen around internal organs, can be associated with inflammation, insulin resistance and blood vessel damage.

This means a person can fall within a normal or overweight BMI category while still carrying a level of abdominal fat that may increase their cardiovascular risk.

The researchers therefore suggested that assessing body-fat distribution alongside BMI could provide a more comprehensive picture of heart health.

Study Looked at Several Cardiovascular Conditions

The research examined a range of cardiovascular outcomes, including heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and atrial fibrillation, as well as deaths related to cardiovascular disease.

The results indicated that having a relatively healthy BMI does not necessarily mean a person has a low risk of cardiovascular problems if they also have higher levels of abdominal fat.

Researchers Point to Study Limitations

The researchers acknowledged that the study had several limitations.

Information about participants’ physical activity, diet and genetic factors associated with obesity was not complete. In addition, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratios were recorded only once during the research period.

Because the measurements were not repeatedly taken, the researchers could not fully assess whether changes in abdominal fat over time influenced cardiovascular risk.

The findings highlight the importance of looking beyond the number on a weighing scale when assessing heart health, although waist measurements should be considered alongside other health and lifestyle factors rather than used as a standalone diagnosis.