Waist Measurement: A Powerful Tool
Reported April 19, 2005
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — One simple way to predict whether you are at risk for developing heart disease or diabetes may be to measure your waist.
A Swedish study suggests people with a waistline of one meter (about 39 inches) or more are at serious risk of insulin resistance — one of the first stages in the development of heart disease and diabetes.
The study involved 2,746 healthy male and female volunteers between ages 18 and 72. Participants had body mass indexes between 18 and 60 kilograms per square meter and waist circumferences between 65 and 150 centimeters (about 26 and 59 inches).
Height, weight, waist and hip circumference were measured, and blood samples were taken to determine insulin sensitivity.
After analyzing the data, the researchers concluded waist circumference was a very strong predictor of insulin sensitivity. A waist circumference of less than 100 centimeters (about 39 inches) excluded insulin resistance in both males and females.
The authors recommend waist circumference measurement as a simple tool to exclude insulin resistance and to identify those at greatest risk of developing heart disease or diabetes. The tool could be used to identify individuals who could benefit the most from lifestyle changes, they say.
SOURCE: British Medical Journal, published online April 14, 2005