Pot belly linked to heart disease Aug 17, 2008
And waist-to-hip ratio was more closely linked to these early signs of heart disease than either body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference alone ... " Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of charity Weight Concern, said even just measuring waist circumference could be useful to assess abdominal fat levels and risks of disease. He said: "The beauty of it is that it is simple, reproducible, and both patients and doctors/nurses can measure and understand it. (Yahoo News -- Heart Disease & Cardiovascular Disorders)
Large Waistlines Associated with Stroke Risk Aug 16, 2008
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A large waist circumference, which is known to raise the risk of cardiovascular disease, may also increase the risk of strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), a brief episode of mild stroke symptoms, according to a study from Germany published Thursday in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association. In an AHA statement, study leader Dr. Tobias Back of Saxon Hospital Arnsdorf in Arnsdorf/Dresden suggests that physicians "measure patients' waistlines and... (MEDLINEplus)
Belly Fat Linked to Stroke Risk Aug 15, 2008
Waist circumference (measured at the level of the belly button) ... Waist-hip ratio (or WHR, defined as waist circumference divided by hip circumference) ... People with bigger waist circumferences (greater than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women) had four times the stroke risk when compared with people with typical waistlines. (WebMD)
Being obese doesn't mean you're not heart-healthy Aug 14, 2008
Carrying excess body fat around your abdomen - measured by your waist circumference - is associated with metabolic risk factors such as high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol, high blood triglycerides and insulin resistance, a condition that occurs when your cells can't properly use the blood-sugar-clearing hormone insulin ... Waist circumference is a good measure of visceral fat, the type of deep fat that packs itself around the abdominal organs and secretes chemicals that increase insulin... (Globe and Mail)
Studies Refine Obesity's Risk for Heart Troubles Aug 13, 2008
"In both studies, the detrimental effect of visceral fat accumulation and its surrogate, waist circumference, were clearly demonstrated, confirming older studies showing that waist circumference is a risk factor even in normal-weight individuals," he said. The studies show it's important to calculate body mass index and measure waist circumference when assessing cardiovascular risk in overweight and obese patients, Landsberg noted. (MEDLINEplus)
Study: You Can Be Hefty But Still Healthy Aug 12, 2008
The study instead suggests looking at a different indicator such as waist circumference. "For example, we believe those who have the apple shape, pot bellies, which tend to be men, they have indicators, whether it be high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease," Dr. Smith said. (CBS News -- Early Show)
Fit and Fat: Study Shows it's Possible Aug 12, 2008
But when Wylie-Rosett's team measured waist circumference, a common way to estimate visceral fat, more than 36 percent of the obese people with what should have been dangerously large waists had healthy blood test results. A second study suggested that the liver may be the key. (Newsmax)
Fat Deposits Boost Heart Attack Risk Aug 7, 2008
The researchers didn't find an association between volume of pericardial fat and BMI or waist circumference. Their study is published in the August issue of the journal Obesity. (Health-Finder)
Trim excess belly fat to aid health Aug 5, 2008
"You could be actually normal weight and have a large waist circumference or an elevated waist-to-hip ratio and still be at risk," he said. So "you should do your best to try to lose that belly fat.". (The Clarion-Ledger)
Fat around the heart may increase risk of heart attacks Jul 30, 2008
The scientists found that while the volume of pericardial fat was related to levels of calcified coronary plaque, body mass index and waist circumference were not related. "Our findings suggest that local fat deposits, rather than total body fat, are most related to calcified coronary plaque," said Ding. (EurekAlert!)
Your Health: Almonds boost weight loss, health gains Jul 4, 2008
The almond-eaters also experienced significantly greater reductions in waist circumference and blood pressure. According to Wien, The weight-loss benefits of eating almonds came as something of a surprise, since the study was originally designed to evaluate the cholesterol-lowering effects of almonds. (Green Valley News & Sun, AZ)
Second Opinion From a Prominent Death, Some Painful Truths Jun 26, 2008
You want to be sure your blood pressure and are controlled, that you re not , and you have the right waist circumference, Dr. Smith said. can reduce the risk of dying from a heart attack by 30 percent, he said. (New York Times)
Testosterone Replacement Benefits Older Men With Low Testosterone, Studies Suggest Jun 24, 2008
To receive this diagnosis, patients must have three of the following five risk factors: increased waist circumference (abdominal fat), low HDL ("good") cholesterol, high triglycerides (fats in the blood), high blood pressure, and high blood sugar. The first study showed that testosterone treatment significantly reduced waist circumference, total cholesterol, LDL ("bad") cholesterol, triglycerides, and body mass index (a measure of body fat). (Science Daily)
Asking and Answering Hard Questions Jun 22, 2008
In the article, Newman noted, if theres one number thats a predictor of mortality, its waist circumference. Studies have found a waist of over 40 inches in men and 35 inches in women is a risk factor for heart disease. (Townhall.com)
Low Testosterone May Cause Health Problems That Lead To Erectile Dysfunction Jun 21, 2008
Having three of the following five risk factors establishes the diagnosis of this syndrome: increased waist circumference (abdominal fat), low HDL ( good ) cholesterol, high triglycerides (fats in the blood), high blood pressure, and high blood sugar. Among the 771 men, 18. (Science Daily)
Studies Support Testosterone Supplements for Older Men Jun 19, 2008
This difference was not explained by age, smoking, alcohol intake, level of physical activity or increased waist circumference (a risk factor for diabetes and heart disease), according to researcher author Robin Haring, a Ph. D. student from Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald, Institute for Community Medicine. (MEDLINEplus)
Low testosterone may kill early Jun 19, 2008
"This difference was not explained by age, smoking, alcohol intake, level of physical activity, or increased waist circumference," said Haring. In cause-specific death analyses, low testosterone also predicted increased risk of death due to heart disease and cancer. (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
Low Testosterone Increases Death Risk Jun 18, 2008
This difference was not explained by age, smoking, alcohol intake, level of physical activity, or increased waist circumference (a risk factor for diabetes and heart disease), Haring said. In cause-specific death analyses, low testosterone predicted increased risk of death due to cardiovascular disease and cancer but not death of any other single cause. (Newsmax)
Weight Gain May Be Healthy When It Comes To Type 1 Diabetes Jun 10, 2008
Researchers measured patients' body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference and assessed BMI every two years during the study period ... When researchers controlled for waist circumference, a commonly cited reason for general fat mortality, patients with a BMI in the underweight range were at greatest risk for death, while those with a BMI in the overweight or obese ranges had a decreased risk of mortality compared to patients with a normal BMI.. (Science Daily)
Weight gain no big deal in type 1 diabetes: study Jun 7, 2008
When the researchers statistically accounted for waist circumference -- a risk factor for death -- overweight or obese patients were less likely to die compared to patients with a normal weight. "The concerns that we have with growing rates of obesity need to be viewed a little differently in type 1 diabetes than in the general population," Orchard said. (Scientific American)
Health drive: Tee off to live longer Jun 1, 2008
Prof Ahlbom said that in the study, favorable effects were noted for body composition with reductions in weight, waist circumference and abdominal skin fold thickness in those who played golf. In addition, training benefits were seen for lipoprotein variables with an increase of the HDL/cholesterol ratio particularly due to an increase of HDL.. (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
Metabolic Syndrome Foretells Diabetes in Elderly May 23, 2008
People with metabolic syndrome have at least three of the following five health problems: elevated blood sugar levels; high blood pressure; high waist circumference; decreased levels of "good" HDL cholesterol; and elevated levels of triglycerides (fats) in the blood ... Results from both studies showed that body-mass index (BMI) or waist circumference, triglyceride levels and glucose cutoff point weren't associated with CVD risk, but all five metabolic syndrome components were associated with... (MEDLINEplus)
Metabolic syndrome can't predict heart risk: study May 22, 2008
Metabolic syndrome requires patients to have at least three of five medical disorders -- a large waist circumference, high triglyceride levels, low "good" HDL cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and raised blood sugar levels. A growing section of the population in North America and Europe are covered by such a definition, reflecting the increasing problem of obesity in developed countries. (Scientific American)
Know your enemy: 10 facts about fat May 20, 2008
In general, a waist circumference of 40 inches or more for men and 35 or more from women puts you at greater risk for obesity-related health problems. Here's a little about each shape, from Apples & Pears: The Body Shape Solution for Weight Loss and Wellness (Atria; $19. (KHOU.com, TX)
Obesity And Unhealthy Lifestyles Linked To More Complex Urinary Problems May 17, 2008
All the participants took part in detailed one-to-one interviews, which included urological symptoms, other medical conditions, physical characteristics such as weight and waist circumference, education, income and behavioural and psychosocial factors. By carrying out a statistical analysis of the results, the researchers were able to group the participants with urological symptoms into distinct patterns or clusters, four for the women and five for the men. (Science Daily)
Warning signs of Indian heart crisis May 8, 2008
Scientists say that the variants found in a specific gene identified as MC4R (a protein which regulates appetite and metabolism) and FTO also triggered a two-centimeter expansion in the waist circumference of adult Indians as compared to Westerners. This leads to "midriff obesity" which often climaxes in heart problems. (Asia Times Online)
Obesity Can Increase Dementia Risk By Up To 80 Percent, Study Suggests May 8, 2008
Subjects with a healthy body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference saw a decreased risk for dementia than their counterparts with an elevated BMI or waist circumference. Wang adds, Preventing or treating obesity at a younger age could play a major role in reducing the number of dementia patients and those with other commonly associated illnesses such as Alzheimer s disease by up to 20 percent in the United States. (Science Daily)
The skinny on big bellies %%deck%%Middle-age spread adds a host of health risks, so exercise and slimming down in the right places become even more important %%enddeck%% May 7, 2008
As a measure of health risk, waist circumference is simple and cheap. The disadvantage: It might not give an accurate picture of visceral fat, which can build up around internal organs in people who are inactive but not necessarily obese. (OregonLive, OR -- News)
Gene sequence that can make half of us fatter is discovered May 5, 2008
Scientists from Imperial College London and other international institutions have discovered that the sequence is associated with a 2cm expansion in waist circumference, a 2kg gain in weight, and a tendency to become resistant to insulin, which can lead to type 2 diabetes ... The scientists looked at the association between unique genetic markers, called single nuclear polymorphisms, and physical traits linked with obesity, such as waist circumference and insulin resistance. (EurekAlert!)
Thin can still be fat on the inside Apr 20, 2008
He recommended people measure their waist circumference and if it exceeded between about 90 and 94 centimetres for men and 80 centimetres for women, have their percentage calculated by a doctor. send photos, videos ffs to 0424 SMS SMH (+61 424 767 764), or us. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
An Apple A Day, Keeps Metabolic Syndrome Away Apr 13, 2008
The study results, presented at the Experimental Biology 2008 meeting, showed that apple-product eaters experienced a 27% lower likelihood of increased waist circumference, predictor of cardiovascular disease and increased likelihood of metabolic syndrome, as compared to those who didnt eat apple. He also noted that apple eaters were healthier than non-consumers. (TopNews)
Belly fat linked to early death in women: Study Apr 10, 2008
According to researchers, the results gave a message that people should watch their waist circumference as well as the scale. People can be very comfortable with their weight and not be aware that due to their waist circumference they are at increased risk, they said. (Daily News & Analysis)
More of this story Apr 9, 2008
Traveling more than 240,000 miles, the tour offers six free screenings: total cholesterol levels, blood pressure, bone density, glucose levels, waist circumference and body mass index ... Waist Circumference: Waist circumference is a horizontal measurement of the abdomen above the upper hip bone ... It can be useful for those people categorized as normal or overweight in terms of BMI. High waist circumference is associated with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension and... (The Fort Meade Leader, FL)
Heart and Stroke tape takes the measure of midriff bulge Apr 8, 2008
"A larger waist circumference is an indication of overall risk that demands immediate attention," says Dr. Jean-Pierre Despr;s, Director of Research at the Qu;bec Heart Institut and Heart and Stroke Foundation of Qu;bec spokesperson ... The meaning of the measure "Waist circumference is not in itself a diagnosis," says Dr. Despr;s ... You can also watch a video on how to correctly take your waist circumference, just visit www. (Canada Newswire)
Mixed Results For Weight Loss Drug, Rimonabant, On Slowing Progression Of Coronary Disease Apr 6, 2008
"Rimonabant-treated patients had a larger reduction in body weight (-4.3kg [-9.5 lbs.] vs. -0.5 kg [-1.1 lbs.]) and greater decrease in waist circumference (-4.5 cm [-1.77 inches] vs. --1.0 cm [- 0.39 inches]). In the rimonabant vs. placebo groups, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased 5.8mg/dL (22.4 percent) vs. 1.8mg/dL (6.9 percent) and median (midpoint) triglyceride levels decreased -24.8 mg/dL (20.5 percent) vs. -8.9 mg/dL (6.2 percent)." However, LDL-C ("bad" cholesterol)... (Science Daily)
Thin on the outside can still be fat on the inside Apr 6, 2008
He recommended people measure their waist circumference, and if it exceeded the healthy limit (about 94 centimetres for European men, 90 for Asian men and 80 for women), visit a doctor to have their body fat percentage calculated. send photos, videos ffs to 0406 THE AGE (0406 843 243), or us. (The Age)
Obesity Drug Shows Mixed Success Against Atherosclerosis Apr 3, 2008
1 pounds in the placebo group); their waist circumference went down more (1. 77 inches versus 0. (MEDLINEplus)
Study shows that a larger abdomen in midlife increases risk of ... Apr 1, 2008
Previous studies have looked at central obesity (as determined by waist circumference) and body mass index in the elderly and its link to dementia risk. In addition, previous studies have shown that a large abdomen -- in midlife -- increases the risk of diabetes, stroke, and coronary heart disease. (News-Medical.net)
Study: Big belly could carry bigger dementia risk Mar 29, 2008
Whitmer said there's no precise way to translate belly measurements into waist circumference. But most people have a sense of whether they have a big belly, she said. (CNN -- Health)
Bigbellycould mean dementia later Mar 27, 2008
The researchers in the study used special calipers to measure SAD, but people can get an idea if they are carrying too much fat around their belly by measuring their waist circumference. A waist larger than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men is generally a sign of too much belly fat, said Dr. Keith Bachman, an internal medicine physician and clinical lead of Kaiser Permanente's Care Management Institute Weight Management Initiative in Portland, Ore. (MSNBC -- Health)
Do you know risks, symptoms of diabetes? Mar 27, 2008
Measure your waist circumference. Studies show that women of a waist circumference of greater than 35 inches, and men with a waist circumference of 40 or greater are at increased risk for developing diabetes. (Brewton Standard, AL)
Patients With Psoriasis At Increased Risk For Developing Other Serious Medical Conditions Mar 26, 2008
Dr. Kimball advised psoriasis patients to follow the American Heart Association s established recommendations for cardiovascular risk factor screening, which includes an evaluation of a patient s blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, pulse, fasting serum lipoprotein (or total and HDL cholesterol), and fasting blood glucose. Other factors that may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease include behavioral-driven risk factors such as obesity, smoking and depression. (Science Daily)
Psoriasis Patients at Increased Risk for Other Diseases Mar 26, 2008
Dr. Kimball advised psoriasis patients to follow the American Heart Associations established recommendations for cardiovascular risk factor screening, which includes an evaluation of a patients blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, pulse, fasting serum lipoprotein (or total and HDL cholesterol), and fasting blood glucose. Other factors that may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease include behavioral-driven risk factors such as obesity, smoking and depression. (Newsmax)
New thoughts on obesity Mar 22, 2008
Research done by Despres and others has shown that excess fat around the stomach visceral fat carries a higher risk for both diabetes and cardiovascular disease, no matter what a persons body mass index is; as a result, Despres advocates for the importance of waist circumference as a vital health measurement to be used in conjunction with more traditional indicators of cardiovascular risk like blood pressure and blood cholesterol measurement. Despres described an international study... (MSNBC -- Health)
Diabetes epidemic expands: Blame “metabolic syndrome”? Mar 15, 2008
"If the blood sugar is a bit high, the waist circumference slightly abnormal, it would very likely qualify for metabolic syndrome, but without that term, they would not leave the office with clear sense of the risk for diabetes or cardiovascular disease. If they see everything as only mildly abnormal, they would not have a strong enough motivation to change behavior." ... Abdominal obesity: waist circumference above 35 inches (female) or 40 inches (male). (Why Files)
Breast Cancer: 3 Ways to Lower the Risk of Recurrence Mar 8, 2008
Rock recommends aiming for a of below 25 (145 pounds for a 5-foot-4 woman) and a waist circumference of no more than 35 inches. 3. (U.S. News & World Report)
The teetotaller's liver disease Mar 6, 2008
A person is thought to have metabolic syndrome if he or she has a large waist circumference plus other risk factors including high blood triglycerides, high blood pressure, elevated fasting blood sugar and low HDL cholesterol. Fatty liver disease affects people of all ages. (Globe and Mail)
Brits 'under-estimate waist size' Feb 28, 2008
He said: "This research shows that people need to be educated about the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and about accurately assessing their waist circumference.". Douglas Smallwood, of the charity Diabetes UK, said: "To believe that you are more than three inches slimmer than you are is to ignore a clear warning of a risk of diabetes. "It can take years for symptoms of diabetes to emerge so simple indicators like waist size are important signals. (BBC News -- Health)
2008 Women's Heart Health Fair Offers Free Screenings, Advice for Baltimore Women Feb 23, 2008
Heart Disease, the Leading Killer of American Women, is Largely Preventable BALTIMORE, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- What: The Sister to Sister Women's Heart Health Fair will offer free heart screenings to measure women's cholesterol, blood pressure, Body Mass Index, waist circumference and do a review of family health history. Potential life-saving results are given on-site. (PR Newswire)
Obesity Linked To Stroke Increase Among Middle-aged Women Feb 23, 2008
Clinical markers evaluated included waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), also known as bad cholesterol), and blood pressure ... "In addition, women in NHANES 1999--2004 had an average waist circumference of nearly 4 centimeters more than women in the earlier study," Towfighi said. (Science Daily)
Ladies, Show Your Heart Some Love Feb 13, 2008
At the event, women will be able to receive free heart screenings to measure cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose levels, blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference and a review of family health history. Results will be given on-site. (Missourian Publishing, MO)
Pot belly linked to heart disease Feb 13, 2008
And waist-to-hip ratio was more closely linked to these early signs of heart disease than either body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference alone ... " Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of charity Weight Concern, said even just measuring waist circumference could be useful to assess abdominal fat levels and risks of disease. He said: "The beauty of it is that it is simple, reproducible, and both patients and doctors/nurses can measure and understand it. (Yahoo News -- Heart Disease & Cardiovascular Disorders)
Whole Grain Diets Lower Risk Of Chronic Disease, Study Shows Feb 11, 2008
Results from the study showed that waist circumference and body weight decreased significantly in both groups -- between 8-11 pounds on average -- but weight loss in the abdominal region was significantly greater in the whole grain group. According to Katcher, the whole grain group experienced a 38 percent decrease in C-reactive protein levels in their blood. (Science Daily)
Protect your heart Feb 11, 2008
Waist circumference: Women: 35 inches or less; men: 40 inches or less (around the belly button, not pant size). Physical activity: At least 30 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity at least three days a week and strength/endurance activity at least two days a week. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Body fat determines need for diet Feb 9, 2008
The researchers obtained each persons BMI as well as body-fat measurements including waist circumference and total percent body fat ... By contrast, waist circumference measurements indicated about 25 percent would need strong recommendations to shed pounds and 36 percent would need basic weight loss recommendations, Colombo said. (MSNBC -- Health)
Nature tops nurturein heavy kids Feb 8, 2008
A statistical analysis found that the differences in the children's body mass index and waist circumference were 77 percent attributable to genes and 23 percent due to the environment in which the children were growing up. Click for related content. (MSNBC -- Health)
Obesity drug use rise in England Feb 1, 2008
"So my fear is that these drugs of last resort are actually used quite early on. It is too easy to turn to the prescription pad. The NHS Information Centre also revealed the results of its annual health survey. More than 21,000 adults and children were quizzed about the food consumption and activity levels. It showed that the gradual rise in the numbers eating healthily and doing regular exercise was continuing. But despite the increases less than a third of adults and one in five children eat... (BBC News -- Health)
Metabolic syndrome affects nearly 1 in 10 US teens Jan 26, 2008
The U.S. cholesterol guidelines have defined the metabolic syndrome for adults who have a cluster of risk factors, including increased waist circumference (central adiposity), hypertension (or elevated blood pressure), low HDL cholesterol, elevated triglycerides and an elevated fasting glucose ... Based on the most recently available data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2002, the study shows that the definition Cook developed in Rochester (a waist... (EurekAlert!)
Another Study Links Western Diet to Heart, Health Risks Jan 23, 2008
A person is thought to have metabolic syndrome if he or she has three or more of the following cardiovascular risk factors: large waist circumference, high blood pressure, high fasting glucose levels, low HDL ("good") cholesterol levels and high triglycerides. According to U.S. government data collected between 1988 and 1994, 24 percent of adult Americans (47 million people) had metabolic syndrome. (U.S. News & World Report)
Burgers, fries, diet soda: Metabolic syndrome blue-plate special Jan 23, 2008
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors including elevated waist circumference, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL or good) cholesterol and high fasting glucose levels. The presence of three or more of the factors increases a persons risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. (EurekAlert!)
The number one killer among women Jan 12, 2008
Waist circumference should be less than 35 inches. Exercise should be more than 30 minutes per day. (Stoneham Sun, MA)
The Right Position For Heart Health Jan 4, 2008
Waist circumference, blood pressure, blood sugar, and triglycerides were significantly lower, and "good" HDL cholesterol levels were higher in the yoga group as compared to controls, Agrawal's team reports in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. . (KWTX.com, TX)
Yoga may reverse risk of heart disease Dec 29, 2007
Waist circumference, blood pressure, blood sugar, and triglycerides were significantly lower, and good HDL cholesterol levels were higher in the yoga group as compared to controls, Agrawals team reports in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. advertisement. (MSNBC -- Health)
Studies show yoga has multiple benefits Dec 29, 2007
Waist circumference, blood pressure, blood sugar, and triglycerides were significantly lower, and "good" HDL cholesterol levels were higher in the yoga group as compared to controls, Agrawal's team reports in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. In the second study, published online December 19 in BioMed Central Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Dr. Anette Kjellgren from the University of Karlstad, Sweden and colleagues evaluated the beneficial effects of yoga-like... (Scientific American)
Abdominal Fat Tied to High Risk for Coronary Trouble Dec 13, 2007
"However, the overriding message from this and other studies about heart disease risk is that, despite the different measures and risk estimates, the bottom line is that many of us need to lose excess weight. Doctors should start looking beyond weight, height, simple waist circumference and BMI to assess heart disease. A simple waist-hip ratio measurement is a strong predictor of heart disease.". HealthDay. (MEDLINEplus)
