For decades we have relied on body mass index (BMI or BMI) to understand whether we were fit or at risk for heart disease. Too bad that, according to new research published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americasthat formula doesn’t tell the whole truth.
Science today focuses on another indicator: the waist-height ratio (WHtR), that is, the measurement of the waist circumference divided by one’s height. Simple, cheap and – it seems – much more effective in predicting who really risks heart problems.
The study followed more than 2,700 Brazilian adults for more than five years, all with no signs of cardiovascular disease at baseline. Those whose waists were too large for their height were significantly more likely to develop calcifications in the coronary arteries, a warning sign of heart disease.
Dr. Thiago Bosco Mendes of the University of Pittsburgh, lead author of the study, explained:
Only waist-to-height ratio remained a true predictor of risk after adjusting for age, cholesterol, smoking, blood pressure and diabetes.
Ergo, even those with a normal BMI can have a heart risk if their waist size is too large.
Goodbye to the myth of the ideal weight
BMI is a mathematical calculation that relates weight and height, but does not distinguish fat mass from muscle mass. He says even less Where fat accumulates. And here is the point: visceral fat, the one that is deposited in the abdomen, is the real danger for the heart and metabolism. Subcutaneous fat – the fat just under the skin – can also be “harmless”. But what surrounds the internal organs is like a lit fuse.
Despite everything, BMI remains the reference in the guidelines of many medical associations. It’s a shame that today the experts are calling for a change of direction. The European Association for the Study of Obesity already recommends considering a waist-to-height ratio above 0.5 as a sign of risk, even if the BMI does not exceed the obesity threshold.
Translated: if your waist circumference is more than half your height, better take action.
And the interesting thing is that WHtR works for everyone: men, women, young people, adults, tall or short. You don’t need different tables or complicated formulas. All you need is a tape measure and a little honesty with yourself.
The measure that anticipates diseases (and costs nothing)
The beauty of this method is its immediacy. No blood tests, no machines. Just a waist measurement and your height. And according to experts, this simple proportion can save lives, because it identifies the risk before symptoms appear.
Research conducted in the United Kingdom on over 7,000 children and young adults has shown that the waist-to-height ratio corresponds very precisely to the results of DEXA scans, which measure the distribution of body fat with advanced techniques. The BMI, on the other hand, is often confusing: it classifies muscular people as “overweight” and does not notice those who accumulate visceral fat.
In short, the belly doesn’t lie. And in an era in which heart disease remains the main cause of death in the world, this small measure can become a great ally in prevention.
You might also be interested in:
