Measure waist for accurate disease risk

January 7, 2006

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A person's waist measurement is a more accurate indicator of heart

disease risk than body mass index (BMI), nurses were told yesterday.

BMI can be misleading, says the article, as it does not distinguish

between 'fat mass' and 'muscle mass'. However, waist circumference

is more likely to tell the two apart.

The UK needs a good measure of disease risk from obesity, as obesity

levels are soaring and bringing increased costs - 2.5bn UK pounds in

2001. Excess visceral fat (around the organs in abdomen) leads to an

increased risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It correlates

well with waist circumference, studies have found.

" It seems clear, therefore, that early intervention targeted at a

reduction in visceral fat deposits may help to reduce the risk of

cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, " reports the Nursing

Standard.

" Currently, only a few primary care organisations have set up weight

management clinics, but it is hoped that more of these services will

become available.

" It is important to standardise the way in which abdominal obesity

is measured to ensure all patients across different clinics are

assessed uniformly. "

A study in 2004 found that waist circumference is strongly linked to

risk of death from all causes, independent of the person's weight. A

further study in 2005 found that waist circumference is a good

predictor of type 2 diabetes. Previous findings show that waist

circumference is significantly linked to heart disease risk.

Abdominal obesity is defined by the International Diabetes

Federation as above 94cm for men and above 80cm for women.

Date: January 6th 2006

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