Measuring your waist may give you a better indication of your risk for many diseases than either your bathroom scale or even your body mass index (BMI). Scientists and doctors have known for years that a big belly is a health risk, but recent studies are backing up the theory with hard facts.
Fat that is stored around vital organs is called visceral fat. And it's deadly. Unlike the fat stored in other parts of the body, which can convert into energy, belly fat continuously creates inflammatory compounds that wreak havoc in your body.
To measure your waist, place a tape measure around the narrowest part of your waist, just above your hipbone. Make sure the tape is snug and level, but don't pull it tight. Exhale — don't suck in — and measure your waist.
Men whose waists are larger than 40 inches and women with waists bigger than 35 inches are at risk.
Even people who are normal weight may be in danger if they carry extra weight in their stomach. Here are seven serious health reasons — including premature death — to lose visceral fat now:
1. Diabetes
A study in Diabetes Care showed that although obesity is a big factor in predicting insulin resistance, the biggest factor is stored fat in the belly. Belly fat surrounds organs necessary for regulating blood and makes it difficult for them to function properly, such as blocking the liver's ability to control insulin. Experts say that losing belly fat can prevent 90 percent of people from developing prediabetes and can actually reverse Type 2 diabetes.
