Rutgers University study links waist size to higher health risks

Researchers at Rutgers University have found that waist circumference may be a more effective indicator of health risks than Body Mass Index (BMI) alone. While BMI is a standard metric for detecting unhealthy body fat, it fails to account for fat distribution.

A study of 1,900 U.S. adults aged 20 to 59 revealed that measuring waist circumference is a simple and highly effective way to identify excess abdominal fat. This type of fat is specifically linked to increased risks of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The study noted that individuals may carry unhealthy amounts of abdominal fat even if they do not appear overweight or possess a high BMI.

Lead author Dr. Aayush Visaria suggested that changes in clothing size, such as needing to loosen a belt, can serve as an early warning sign of accumulating unhealthy body fat. While U.S. health guidelines use thresholds of 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men to indicate increased risk, researchers emphasize that these should be considered alongside other factors like blood pressure and cholesterol.