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Determining who is at risk for diseases as serious as type 2 diabetes
may be as simple as measuring your waist.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) and health departments in 10 countries, waist
circumference and body
mass index (BMI) -- a measure of a person's weight in
relation to their height -- can identify health risks associated
with overweight and obesity.
The reviewers found that people with similar waist circumferences
had comparable rates of type 2 diabetes
regardless of age and that in women, the rate of heart disease rose
as both BMI and waist circumference increased.
Previous research has shown that people who develop excess weight
in their abdomen, or those with an "apple-shaped" body,
have a higher risk of certain chronic disorders than people who
tend to gain weight in their buttocks and thighs, or those who have
"pear-shaped" bodies. Waist circumference can gauge a
person's overall pattern of weight gain.
American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition January, 2001;73:123-126 (Free
Full Text Reference)
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