For Good Health, Watch Your Waist Size, Not Just Your Weight
In addition to the known cardiovascular risks, an increased waistline has also been linked to dementia, cancer and infertility. For women, visceral fat stores can interfere with ovarian function, causing irregular cycles which make conception difficult.
Experts suggest that for every four inches we add to our waistline, we increase the risk of serious heart problems by over 25%. Losing just two inches off the waist can dramatically improve overall health.
Waist size and risk of health problems
You have a higher risk of health problems if your waist size is:
•more than 94cm (37 inches), if you’re a man
•more than 80cm (31.5 inches), if you’re a woman
Your risk of health problems is even higher if your waist size is:
•more than 102cm (40 inches), if you’re a man
•more than 88cm (34.5 inches), if you’re a woman
The good news is that visceral fat can be reduced by exercise and a diet rich in fibre, protein, fish, grains and monosaturated fats (the kind found in nuts and olive oil.)
. “The take-home message is that it’s important to watch your waist, not just your weight,” “and to start eating better and exercising more if you see your waist size starting to increase.”