It’s the Waist, Not the Weight, That’s the Kicker
by Ruth Folger Weiss
I’m not out ruin anyone’s day, including my own- just sharing the facts, Ma’m. In a depressing report of 44,600 female nurses enrolled in a long-term health study, researchers conclude in the April 1 edition of Circulation:
Waists mattered more than weight in determining a healthy profile; having a big waist may raise women’s mortality rate, even in women who are not overweight.
“Although maintaining a healthy weight should continue to be a cornerstone in the prevention of chronic diseases and premature death, it is equally important to maintain a healthy waist size and prevent abdominal obesity.” Concentrate less on the readings of your scale and more on diminishing any signs of belly fat. Yah, become more dexterous in computing the waist -to-hip ratio, by dividing your waist measurement by your hip measurement. Sure.
“Being in the normal weight range was less important than having a waist less than 34.6 inches and a waist-to-hip ratio of less than 0.88”
Based on the American Heart Association and U.S. Department of Agriculture definitions for abdominal obesity, the cutoffs are waist circumference of 34.6 inches for women and 40 inches for men.
Wish those nurses had opted out of this 16 year study!
