Large waist mortality risk

US study finds this is the case for both sexes

A US study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, has found that men and women with large waists are at an increased risk of dying young, regardless of their BMI. For nine years the researchers followed more than 100,000 men and women aged 50 and older, and found that the risk of mortality appears to double in very high waist measurements (110 cm for women (equivalent to UK size 24-26) and 120 cm for men (equivalent to UK size XXXXL).  They also found that for women, the relationship between a larger waist and a higher risk of death was strongest for those of normal weight – a finding the researchers say needs further investigation.

The most common cause of death in those with the strongest link between mortality and waist size was respiratory disease, followed by cardiovascular disease and then cancer.

Dr David Haslam, chair of the National Obesity Forum, felt the research had significant implications: ‘This underlines the message that fat inside the belly is dangerous. Even if you have a normal BMI and a big tummy then you are just as much at risk as someone who is classified as obese with a large tummy.’

The study adds support to other research which has shown that abdominal obesity is a strong indicator for a range of chronic diseases such as coronary artery disease, insulin resistance and the development of type 2 diabetes.

Source: BBC News online, 9 August 2010.

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