Carrying a Spare Tire

You have heard it referred to as "middle-aged spread" or "carrying a spare tire" but those extra pounds around the middle of the body are getting more attention from researchers. Health care providers have always measured weight and height on routine check-ups and more recently may have calculated a patient's BMI or body mass index. Studies have linked the risk for heart disease and diabetes to excess fat stored in the abdominal area. A waist measurement of greater than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women is linked to higher risk of common chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. (To measure your waist, place the tape measure at your belly button or just slightly above and then keep the tape in a horizontal position all the way around your body. Pull the tape snug but not too tight.) A new American Heart Association study compared waist circumference with another indicator called the waist-to-hip ratio. The waist and hip measurements are taken and the waist measurement is divided by the hip measurement to yield the "waist-to-hip ratio." A ratio of more than 1.0 for men and .85 for women is considered high risk for health problems. Example: A man's waist is 36 inches and his hips measure only 32 inches- divide 36 by 32 and the answer is 1.13 or greater than 1.0 which implies an increased risk for heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. The men with the highest waist-to-hip ratio had a 55 percent higher risk of heart disease than the men with the lowest waist-to-hip ratios. Women with the highest ratios were 91 percent more likely to develop heart disease than those with smaller waists and bigger hips. Regular walking of about 30 minutes 5 times a week is one of the best ways to reduce the abdominal fat stores. Combine this physical activity with some smaller portions and moderation in eating habits and it might save your life.