The Skinny Fat Study: Why a Bit of Belly Is Bad

The BMI, or Body Mass Index, is pretty flawed. It's a number that looks at your weight in relation to your height, and for decades people have used it to determine a person's obesity level and their risk of associated illnesses like cardiovascular disease. A new study that was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association looked at a different number, the waist-to-hip ratio, which specifically measures whether a person is storing excess fat around their middle. The results? People with a normal BMI but who had "central obesity" (or what most people would term "belly fat") had twice the risk of early death compared to those who had a BMI of "overweight" or "obese." Abdominal fat, it turns out, could be a much more reliable indicator of mortality than one's weight.

Someone forward you this email? No Sweat! Sign up here to get your own If you're having trouble viewing this email, click here Follow Us The Skinny Fat Study: Why a Bit of Belly Is Bad The BMI, or Body Mass Index, is pretty flawed. It's a number that looks at your weight in relation to your height, and for decades people have used it to determine a person's obesity level and their risk of associated illnesses like cardiovascular disease. A new study that was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association looked at a different number, the waist-to-hip ratio, which specifically measures whether a person is storing excess fat around their middle. The results? People with a normal BMI but who had "central obesity" (or what most people would term "belly fat") had twice the risk of early death compared to those who had a BMI of "overweight" or "obese."  Abdominal fat, it turns out, could be a much more reliable indicator of mortality than one's weight. Nicholas English Content Manager of About.com Health Don't Measure Your Child's BMI - Do This Instead READ NOW How to Weight Train for Weight Loss    READ NOW 3 Natural Ways to Lose Belly Fat    READ NOW 124 Weight Loss Mistakes You Should Avoid READ NOW Trending Now • The Ultimate Guide to a Healthier Thanksgiving • Should We Stop Saying "HIV/AIDS" and Just Say "HIV"? • 5 Things You Should Know About Medicare Open Enrollment Before It Closes • Can Chili Peppers Relieve Fibromyalgia Pain? • 10 Healthy Alternatives to Pumpkin Pie • Beans for Weight Loss: Fact or Fiction • How to Enjoy Thanksgiving on a Restrictive Diet Advertisement About Health  |  Follow Us You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Health newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY, 10036 © 2015 About.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.