A study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent
Medicine found the greater the Waist-to-Height Ratio the worse
the lipid profile and hypertension in adolescents. This
particular study evaluated 4,104 ninth-grade students between
the ages of 14 and 15 years-old during the 2009 – 2012 school
year. Body mass index was used to classify waist measurements.
The greater the waist-to-height ratio, the greater the risk for
poor lipid profiles and high blood pressure compared to those
with normal body mass indexes and waist-to-height ratios. Yes,
this was a study of adolescents, but that doesn’t mean the same
principal doesn’t apply to adults. The larger your waist
circumference, the greater your risk for heart disease. This
excess fat around your midsection is called visceral fat.
Visceral fat is more metabolically active, which means increased
effects on cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.
What should your waist circumference be? If you are a woman,
your waist circumference should be les