The Bigger Your Waist, the Shorter Your Life, Research Suggests

There are many reasons to shed extra pounds and get that enviably slim waist. Among them is assuring you'll live a long life, according to results of a recent study by the renowned Mayo Clinic.

Researchers analyzed data from some 650,000 adults and found that waist circumference is a strong indicator of one's overall health and longevity. Among the highlights:

• Women with waists over 37 inches have an 80-percent higher risk of conditions like heart disease, lung problems or cancer compared to women whose waist span was under 27 inches.
• Men with a waist circumference of 43 inches were at 52-percent greater risk of death than men with a 37-inch waist. 
• Every two-inch increase translated into a 9-percent increased mortality risk.

The key to assessing risk is in the waist-to-hip ratio. When the stomach measurement is 90 percent or more of the hip measurement in men, or 85 percent or more of the hip measurement in women, it's a red flag for a slew of health risks. That's because excessive abdominal fat is associated with multiple obesity-related conditions, such as high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes.

If you're looking to shed extra pounds and whittle your waist, call 800-501-8090 and schedule a consultation with a Metabolic Research Center weight loss counselor. We can customize a nutrition and exercise plan just for you.