It is not just how much you weigh but where all the fat is distributed in your body that actually affects your risk of heart failure
Heart disease and failure are among the most common causes of death among people across the world. According to experts, while there are many reasons behind cardiovascular issues, obesity and weight gain are among the foremost causes. For years, the calculation of your body mass index, or BMI, has been the standard calculation used by the NHS that compares your weight and height to assess your health.
But now, scientists say your waist-to-height ratio, or WtHR could be a better measure and a more accurate way to help predict your risk of heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, which happens when your heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. It is a complex syndrome that affects one or both sides of the heart, causing symptoms like breathlessness, fatigue, and swelling in the legs.
According to scientists from Sweden, it is not just how much you weigh but where all the fat is distributed in your body that actually affects your risk of the life-threatening condition. The team from Lund University found that belly fat has a bigger impact on heart health than the overall size of the body.
This adds to growing evidence that we should drop BMI and focus on WtHR instead, which is found by dividing your waist measurement by your height.
And so, scientists, who presented their findings at the European Society of Cardiology’s scientific congress in Serbia, said your ideal waist size should be less than half your height, which, when you calculate, should come between 0.4 to 0.49. For example, if you're 5ft 8in (173cm), your waist should be under 34 inches (86cm) to stay in the healthy range.
Belly fat is also linked to more serious illnesses like type 2 diabetes, stroke, and cancers than overall body weight. “BMI is the most common measure of obesity, but it is influenced by factors such as sex and ethnicity and does not take into account the distribution of body fat,” said Dr. Amra Jujic from Lund University.
"Waist-to-height ratio is considered a more robust measure of central adiposity, the harmful deposition of fat around visceral organs,” Dr. Jujic added.
How was the study conducted?
According to experts, the study tracked over 2,000 people between the ages of 45 to 73 years for over 12 years as part of the Malmö Preventive Project. Over time, nearly 150 went on to develop heart failure. The researchers found that people with a higher waist-to-height ratio were significantly more likely to develop heart failure, regardless of their overall weight.
Those with the highest waist-to-height ratios, around 0.65, were 2.7 times more likely to get the disease than everyone else, regardless of their weight.
How can you accurately measure your waist?
To accurately measure your waist, experts say you need to find the natural waistline, which is located just above your belly button.
Thereafter, you need to breathe out normally and wrap a flexible measuring tape snugly but not tightly around your body at that point. Ensure the tape is parallel to the floor and read the measurement. Note down the measurement at the point where the tape ends and repeat the process to help ensure accuracy.
The World Health Organisation recommended levels for waist circumference - defined as less than 88cm (35 in) for women and 102cm (40i) for men.
