Health studies suggest waist circumference is a better risk indicator than BMI

Recent medical research highlights that the Body Mass Index (BMI) may be an unreliable indicator of health risks, particularly regarding cardiovascular disease and mortality in older adults. Studies indicate that visceral fat—fat stored around internal organs—poses a much higher risk than total body weight suggests.

Research from the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center, involving 260,000 participants, found that individuals with a normal BMI but high abdominal fat face up to a 50 percent higher risk of heart disease. Similarly, US researchers from the University of Rhode Island noted a paradox in adults over 65: while a higher BMI was sometimes associated with lower mortality, a larger waist circumference remained a consistent predictor of increased death risk.

In the context of menopause, hormonal shifts and declining estrogen levels can lead to increased inflammation and abdominal fat accumulation. Experts suggest that dietary approaches focusing on anti-inflammatory foods, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber may help manage weight and metabolic health during this transition.