What is waist circumference or abdominal girth, and why is it important?
A. Fat stored around the middle of the body (the waist or abdomen) can put you at risk for high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, type-2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. This risk goes up with a waist size that is greater than 35 inches (88cm) for women or greater than 40 inches (102cm) for men. Studies have shown that extra weight around the waistline is more dangerous to the heart than extra weight that is on the hips and thighs. Measuring your waist, known as taking a waist circumference or abdominal girth measurement, is a great way to keep track of weight loss. This measurement will also show if you are/are not at risk for developing health problems. If your waist circumference is approaching the cutoffs (within 3 inches or 8cm), your risk is starting to increased. It’s important to do something about your risk now. Keep in mind that a modest weight reduction of as little as 5%-10% of your body weight can reduce high blood pressure and total blood cholesterol. Q. What is
