Study Finds Belly Size Beats BMI at Predicting Heart Attacks
The study found waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio improved risk prediction in 260,000 people over 20 years, researchers said.
- A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio are better predictors of cardiovascular risk than BMI alone, challenging current diagnostic standards.
- BMI is widely used to diagnose obesity, but it fails to distinguish between fat and muscle or identify where fat is stored. Visceral fat surrounding internal organs is more metabolically active than subcutaneous fat, promoting cardiovascular disease.
- Researchers analyzed data from 260,000 people over 20 years, finding that normal-weight or overweight individuals with elevated central adiposity face a 15% to 50% greater risk for most cardiovascular outcomes.
- Yale School of Medicine's Harlan Krumholz called for abandoning sole focus on BMI, saying "where fat is distributed matters" and should be part of routine risk assessment.
- Relying solely on BMI may result in misclassification of cardiovascular risk, as some individuals with obesity have lower abdominal fat and reduced risk. Study lead author Zeina Dardari encourages clinicians to consider central adiposity across the entire BMI spectrum.
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77 Articles
Normal weight on the scale, but still an increased heart risk? This can happen when fat accumulates mainly on the abdomen. A new long-term study shows why the BMI alone is not enough to properly assess the risk. Therefore, where the fat is located is crucial.
Belly fat is better than BMI at predicting heart disease risk
A large study suggests waist size and belly fat may predict heart disease risk more accurately than body mass index (BMI) alone, with wider midriffs raising the danger even among people classed as normal weight.
People with a lot of fat in the abdomen often suffer from cardiovascular complaints. A study shows that the waist circumference predicts the risk of disease more reliably than the body mass index.
Belly Fat Plus Low Vitamin D Linked To Higher Death Risk In Adults Over 50
A large waist and low vitamin D are individual warning signs on their own. Together, they are associated with a substantially higher death risk. The post Belly Fat Plus Low Vitamin D Linked To Higher Death Risk In Adults Over 50 appeared first on StudyFinds.
Simple body measurement may beat BMI at predicting heart disease, scientists say
A landmark investigation tracking 260,000 individuals over two decades has concluded that measuring belly fat is a superior predictor of heart disease compared with body mass index alone. The research, published yesterday in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found that waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio offer a far more reliable gauge of cardiovascular risk than the widely used BMI metric.The study revealed that individu…
Why some people classified as obese may have lower heart risks than expected
A new study suggests belly fat may be a better predictor of heart disease than body mass index, or BMI.Researchers at Johns Hopkins analyzed data from more than 260,000 people over about 20 years.They found people with larger waistlines faced a higher risk of heart disease, even if their BMI was considered normal.RELATED STORY | US obesity rate falls for the first time in years, but diabetes hits an all-time high, data saysThe study also found s…
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