The study included 15 elderly participants who were individually matched to 15 younger participants by body mass index (BMI) measurements. All of the participants were given glucose tolerance tests. Results of the study showed waist circumference was a powerful indicating tool of fat that would increase the likelihood of developing diabetes.
The study provided a great way to measure and keep track of the risk of diabetes through the use of a tape measure.
Healthy waist size ranges:
Other findings from the study revealed that waist circumference and triglycerides were the only independent indicators of insulin sensitivity. It was discovered that age didn’t have an impact on the results.
Also, it was confirmed that the insulin decline seen in elderly people was linked to increased abdominal fat, rather than being contributed to getting older.
Metabolism July, 2003;52(7)
We now have over 20 percent of the U.S. population with diabetes or pre-diabetes.
Typically, the older one gets the more likely they are to have type 2 diabetes. With nearly two-thirds of the United States overweight it would be easy to believe that total body fat or even total fitness would correlate well with insulin sensitivity. However, this does NOT appear to be the case and they are only indirectly related to diabetes.
The key appears to be your waist size.
Robert Crayhon sent me the article above that documents this association. In one of my past newsletters, I also posted an article about this.
The study shows clearly that your waist measurement is a powerful predictor of fat that will increase your risk of diabetes. So, although total body fitness doesn't seem to directly correlate, we know that cardiovascular exercise is one of the most powerful ways to obtain a normal waist size and improve your insulin resistance.
This gives us a very powerful, simple and inexpensive tool to keep track of our risk of diabetes, the tape measure.
Here is how to measure your waist circumference:
With a tape measure, measure the distance around the smallest area below the rib cage and above the umbilicus (belly button).
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition is my absolute favorite journal and I love the fact that anyone can go their Web site and look at the full text journal article of any article that is over one year old, so you can view the full article now.
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