Waist Size & Heart Health Are Correlated!
Waist Size & Heart Health Are Correlated!
We all know that being overweight can lead to a host of health problems, but did you know that carrying excess pounds can also put you at risk for heart disease? That’s right; carrying too much weight around your waist can increase your risk for heart disease, even if you are not technically considered obese. So, are you thinking – what should my waist size be?
What Should My Waist Size Be?
Your waist size is a major factor in determining your risk for heart disease! So, the link between excess pounds and heart disease is well-established. But why does carrying extra weight increase your risk for heart disease? One reason is that excess weight, especially around the waist, can lead to high blood pressure. That’s because the fat tissue in and around your abdominal organs releases substances that can raise your blood pressure. Waist size is a good indicator of the amount of fat tissue you have. People with large waists are more likely to have high blood pressure than those with smaller waists. Carrying extra weight also raises your risk for diabetes. When you have diabetes, your body can’t make or use insulin properly. If you have diabetes, too much sugar in your blood can damage your heart and other organs.
Understanding BMI
First and foremost, you should well understand the basics of body mass index or BMI. BMI is a calculation that takes into accounts your height and weight to give you an idea of whether you’re a healthy weight, overweight, or obese. Not sure what your waist size should be? You must initiate with BMI by measuring body fat as per your height & weight. 25-29.9 BMI would be in the overweight range, while 30 or above BMI would in the obese range. However, BMI isn’t always accurate, especially if you have a lot of muscle mass. That’s why it’s important to also measure your waist size.
Size Does Matter!
Do you know why your waist size matters? Well! Your this is a good indicator of how much visceral fat you have; that’s the type of fat that surrounds your internal organs. Too much visceral fat can lead to inflammation and a host of other health problems, including heart disease. Here’s why size matters: carrying excess weight around your middle increases your risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes – all major risk factors for heart disease.
Calculating Waist Size
To measure this, wrap a measuring tape around your stomach at its narrowest point, preferably your navel. Once you have your measurement, you can use the below mentioned metrics to see if your waist size puts you at increased risk for heart disease.
- Circumference: Ideally, the size should be less than 35 inches if you’re a woman or less than 40 inches if you’re a man.
- Ratio of waist to hips: The healthy ratio is less than 0.8 inches in case of women, & 0.9 inches in case of men.
- Ratio of waist to height: The ideal measurement of your waist would be less than half your height. (For example, if someone is 5 feet 6 inches tall, or say 66 inches tall, his/her ideal size is somewhere near to 33 inches, and not more)
Dr. Arun Can Guide You Well!
If your waist is large, it is time to take some action to lose some weight from this region & otherwise also to reduce your risk of heart disease. So, there you have it; the importance of maintaining a healthy size of the waist for a healthy heart! The good news is that even a small reduction in waist size can have a big impact on your heart health. So, start making lifestyle changes today! You can even contact Dr. Arun in this regard, who will give you the best medical advice.
