Study of 260,000 Adults Finds Waist Size Flags Up to 50% Higher Heart Risk
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 16
Study of 260,000 Adults Finds Waist Size Flags Up to 50% Higher Heart Risk
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 16
Summary
Nearly 260,000 adults tracked for about 20 years showed waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio can uncover cardiovascular danger that BMI alone misses.
Among people in normal and overweight BMI ranges, larger waists or higher waist-to-hip ratios were linked to a 15% to 50% higher risk of heart problems and death.
Researchers assessed heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and cardiovascular deaths, reinforcing that fat distribution—not just weight relative to height—matters for risk.
The study measured waist size only once and lacked data on exercise, diet and genetic obesity risk, limiting how precisely it can explain changes in abdominal fat over time.