Better Bodies In Training

Waist size

There are a few studies which suggest that Waist Size matters more than Body Weight. In the publication Circulation (http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/117/13/1658), research was conducted with large study of more than 44,000 nurses. The results shows that waist size is strongly associated with death rates independently of body mass index. The research concluded that: elevated waist circumference was associated with significantly increased CVD mortality even among normal-weight women. What this mean is that for individuals who are overweight, it may be more important to look at abdominal obesity rather than BMI when assessing potential health risks.

According to the site WebMD.com, “abdominal obesity is the presence of excess fat in the abdominal area". It is numerically defined as a waist circumference of:

• 1. 34.6 inches for women
• 2. and 40 inches for men.

The Signifigance

Among women of normal weight, those with a waist larger than 34.6 inches were three times as likely to die of heart disease, compared to women with smaller waists. This study also shows that an overweight woman without abdominal obesity could actually be in better shape than a normal weight woman with excess or too much belly fat. One major risk factor is the development of Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic Syndrome

As reported on the American Heart Association website, (http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4756), metabolic syndrome is characterized by a group of metabolic risk factors in one person. They include:

• 1. Abdominal obesity (excessive fat tissue in and around the abdomen)
• 2. Atherogenic dyslipidemia (blood fat disorders — high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and high LDL cholesterol — that foster plaque buildups in artery walls)
• 3. Elevated blood pressure
• 4. Insulin resistance or glucose intolerance (the body can’t properly use insulin or blood sugar)
• 5. Prothrombotic state (e.g., high fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor–1 in the blood)
• 6. Proinflammatory state (e.g., elevated C-reactive protein in the blood)

People with the metabolic syndrome are at increased risk of coronary heart disease and other diseases related to plaque buildups in artery walls (e.g., stroke and peripheral vascular disease) and type 2 diabetes. The metabolic syndrome has become increasingly common in the United States. It’s estimated that over 50 million Americans have it.

How to Calculate:

To calculate your waist circumference, use a tape measure to measure the circumference of your waist at its smallest point — usually just above your navel. Remember a waist measurement of greater than:

• 1. 40 inches (102 centimeters) for men or
• 2. 35 inches (89 centimeters) for women

indicates increased health risks.

What is your waist size? Do you fall into the category of having abdominal obesity? Do you understand the potential health risks associated with having too much belly fat? Would you like to have a program to assist you in substantially reducing your waist size? If so, contact us for more details at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .