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Does your Dad or
beloved Uncle George have the proverbial beer belly? According
to two recent studies, men with "central obesity"
may be more likely to develop high blood pressure and insulin
resistance (a condition in which a person loses his or her
ability to respond to insulin) than men who gain weight in
other areas, putting them at risk for heart disease and diabetes.
Body mass index
(BMI) is widely used for the classification of overweight
(BMI 25) and obesity (BMI 30) in men and women. BMI correlates
reasonably well with laboratory-based measures of obesity
and is extremely practical in most clinical settings.
However, BMI does
not account for the wide variation in body fat distribution,
the nature of obesity across different individuals and populations,
and the joint relation of body composition and body size to
health outcomes. Many studies have reported that body fat
distribution is a more powerful predictor than is BMI for
risk factors, diseases, and mortality.
Increased organ
or abdominal adipose tissue in particular have been shown
to be more strongly associated with heart disease and a variety
of chronic diseases.
Waist circumference
(WC) is a convenient measure of abdominal adipose tissue and
is unrelated to height correlates closely with BMI and total
body fat, and is associated with cardiovascular disease risk
factors independent of BMI.
How was the
first study conducted?
In the first study
of over 700 men between 25 and 75 years of age not taking
medication to lower their blood pressure, blood glucose and
insulin levels were measured after an overnight fast. They
also calculated BMI and took blood pressure readings in three
different ways. Additionally, abdominal circumference, the
classic indicator of a "beer belly", was recorded.
What were the
results?
Those with a high
BMI, large abdominal circumference rose in tandem with age
and blood pressure. Blood pressure was also associated with
higher insulin levels after subjects consumed a sugar-filled
drink.
How was the
second study conducted?
The researchers
assessed the relationship between waist circumference and
heart disease risk factors associated with obesity in more
than 9,000 adults. Again, waist circumference was found to
be a better mark of heart disease risk, as it was closely
correlated with elevated bad cholesterol levels and elevated
blood sugar levels.
So how do you
get rid of a beer belly?
The researchers
suggested that those with a beer belly decrease their caloric
intake and maintain a healthy program of physical exercise.
American
Journal of Hypertension September 15, 2002:780-786
American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition October 2002; 76:743-749
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