Stubborn Belly

If you have central obesity (apple shaped body) and your body mass index (BMI) says that you are barely overweight, then having a lax attitude won't help. A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine studied the risks that come with having an apple-shaped body. It also showed that having an apple-shaped body increased the risk of early death, particularly from heart disease. Moreover, those with wider hips (pear-shaped body) were less likely to die prematurely than those with similar BMI who were apple-shaped.

A population of 15,184 adults (age 18-90) had their BMI and waist to hip ratio calculated were followed up with for 15 years to see how many died of any cause. It was observed that men and women who were considered obese were more likely to die during the follow-up period than those defined as normal weight and overweight. In every group, the waist to hip ratio trumped BMI as a predictor of risk of death. While being obese as defined by BMI increases the risk of heart diseases, Diabetes and cancer, it is not a convenient way to gauge overall fitness. Moreover, it is not the best predictor of health risks that come with carrying excess fat.

Source:  Tribune News service